Instituto Bernabeu presents at the ESHRE International Congress a study about the damaged sperm DNA influence in live birth rates.
June, 29th 2023
In assisted reproduction treatment, the oocytes and sperm quality is crucial for success. Worldwide, one in six couples of reproductive age have problems achieving pregnancy, of which about 40% of cases are due to male factor. Although still rare, there are studies pointing to DNA breakage as one of the reasons preventing pregnancy from occurring.
Instituto Bernabeu has delved into male infertility and will present a paper on June 28th to leading experts at the world’s most important fertility congress, organised by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Copenhagen. This study has investigated the effects of the sperm DNA integrity, which is important for fertilization, implantation and optimal development pregnancy, and its relationship with live birth rate.
The study’s main author, biochemist Paqui Lozano, explains the aim of the research was to assess whether the level of damage to sperm DNA has an impact on the assisted reproduction treatments results in relation to live birth rate. The study involved 447 infertile couples who underwent assisted reproduction treatment with the couple’s own sperm and donated oocytes, including the PGT-A pre-implantation genetic test to detect chromosomal alterations in the embryo.
Instituto Bernabeu’s findings suggest that there is a clear effect when sperm DNA is damaged. “Our data show that the live birth rate decreased in patients with high sperm fragmentation rate”.
This work by Instituto Bernabeu confirms previous studies conclusions showing that the results of assisted reproduction treatments are affected if there is sperm DNA damage. This information is very valuable as it helps to fine-tune the treatment; and when it is found the patient has abnormally high sperm fragmentation values, treatment with antioxidants, among others, can be recommended. To this end, it is important to perform the TUNEL sperm DNA fragmentation test to study the male factor in depth and to find the causes of adverse assisted reproduction treatments outcomes.
F.M. Lozano, M. Hortal, B. Lledó, J.A. Ortiz, R. Morales, A. Bernabeu, R. Bernabeu