Adequate ovarian follicular status does not prevent the decrease in pregnancy rates associated with high sperm DNA fragmentation.

OBJECTIVE

Potential reparation of sperm DNA fragmentation in the oocyte may disturb any relationship between DNA-damaged sperm and the implantation ability of resulting embryos. To rule out this factor, we analyzed the consequences of sperm DNA fragmentation on IVF-ET outcome in women with healthy ovarian function.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Teaching hospital, France.

PATIENT(S): All 117 women were <38 years old, who combined normal serum day-3 FSH and inhibin B levels with an adequate response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

INTERVENTION(S): The DNA fragmentation rate was determined in the raw sperm used for conventional IVF by flow cytometric terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay. Cycles were sorted into two groups according to whether DNA fragmentation exceeded (high fragmentation [HF], n = 52) or did not exceed (low fragmentation [LF], n = 65) the 50th percentile of values (35%).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): D2 embryo quality and implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates.

RESULT(S): Patients' characteristics, raw semen parameters, fertilization rates, and embryology data were similar in HF and LF groups. Clinical (37.5% vs. 62.5%) and ongoing (23.5% vs. 57.8%) pregnancy rates per ET and implantation rates (24.5% vs. 42.4%) were lower in the HF group than in the LF group.

CONCLUSION(S): High sperm DNA fragmentation spares fertilization and top embryo morphology rates but is associated with decreased IVF-ET outcome.