Objective: To evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation in correlation with sperm parameters and IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes.
Design: Retrospective review.
Setting: A tertiary infertility referral clinic.
Patient(s): We collected 303 semen samples from patients undergoing IVF with or without ICSI.
Intervention(s): Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, measurement of fertilization rates, good embryo rates, and pregnancy rates for the IVF/ICSI program.
Main outcome measure(s): The percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation, correlated with semen analysis parameters and IVF/ICSI outcomes.
Result(s): Sperm DNA fragmentation rates were significantly higher in patients with abnormal sperm parameters than in those with normal sperm parameters. When sperm DNA fragmentation was >10%, fertilization rates were affected. Sperm DNA fragmentation rates were negatively correlated with sperm velocity parameters but did not affect pregnancy outcomes.
Conclusion(s): The results indicated that sperm DNA fragmentation affects fertilization rates and sperm motility but might not affect pregnancy rates.