Effect of sperm chromatin damage on fertilization ratio and embryo quality post-ICSI.

A total of 56 semen samples was collected from men in the ICSI program. The female partners of all men were under 35 years of age. Sperm chromatin integrity was evaluated by staining the spermatozoa with acridine orange. > 56% red fluorescence was taken as abnormal chromatin status. A significant negative association was found between the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation and fertilization rate. Increased red fluorescence indicated impaired fertilization outcome. Good quality embryo rates were significantly lower in abnormal AO stained group. Chromatin damage precedes the loss of fertilization potential and poor embryo quality.