Infertility in men can happen due to a wide range of reasons. Sperm DNA damage/fragmentation is one of the prominent reasons for the defective function of sperms and it could lead to infertility, reduced fertilization rate, miscarriage, and also can affect embryo quality and reduce the success rate of assisted reproductive technology. Fragmentation usually occurs due to free radicals and these are produced due to endogenous and exogenous factors.
Sperm DNA damage – Causes:
- Stress
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity
- Air pollution
- Diet
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Varicocele
- Recreational drugs
- Advanced age
Sperm DNA damage – Diagnosis:
Sperm Chromatin Structure Analysis is the most commonly used test to find out if there is any abnormality in sperm DNA. A dye is added to the sperms and if there is fragmentation, the colour of DNA turns red and if there is no fragmentation, DNA turns green. Based on the ratio of colours, the percentage of DNA fragmentation is calculated.
Who should go for the DNA fragmentation test?
- Men with advanced age
- Men with higher BMI
- Men exposed to heavy metals
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Recurrent IVF failure
Treatment:
- Lifestyle modifications
- Varicocele repair
- Healthy Diet
