Fertilis Reproductive Medicine, San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Belgrano University, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
JBRA Assist Reprod. 2021 Oct 4;25(4):533-539. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20210018.
This study aimed to assess the effects of sperm DNA fragmentation in parents belonging to different age groups. The couples included in the study comprised normozoospermic men and infertile women undergoing conventional IVF.
The results obtained from 163 conventional IVF cycles were analyzed retrospectively. The couples enrolled in the study included women aged between 30 and 37 years. Sperm DNA fragmentation was studied using the TUNEL assay. The patients were split into four groups based on male age and sperm DNA fragmentation, as follows: Group 1: ≤39 years and TUNEL assay ≤20%; Group 2: ≤39 years and TUNEL assay >20%; Group 3: ≥40 years and TUNEL assay ≤20%; and Group 4: ≥40 years and TUNEL assay >20%.
No significant differences were found in semen parameters or fertilization rates between groups. Groups with <20% sperm DNA fragmentation showed significant differences in other parameters, including higher blastocyst formation rate (Group 1: 63% and Group 3: 60% vs. Group 2: 43% and Group 4: 41%, p<0.05) and higher expanded blastocyst formation rate (Group 1: 42% and Group 3: 40% vs. Group 2: 21% and Group 4: 18%, p<0.05). Miscarriage rate was significantly higher in Group 4 (42% and 46% vs. 5%, 25% and 5% in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, p<0.05).
Our results showed lower blastocyst formation rates from IVF when males had high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. Higher miscarriage rates were also observed in couples with males aged 40+ years. These results reinforce the need to inform couples with male partners aged 40+ years about the potential risks inherent to fertility treatment.
本研究旨在评估不同年龄段父母的精子 DNA 碎片化对其的影响。研究纳入了常规体外受精（IVF）的正常精子男性和不孕女性。
回顾性分析了 163 例常规 IVF 周期的结果。研究纳入的夫妇年龄在 30-37 岁之间。采用 TUNEL 法检测精子 DNA 碎片化。根据男性年龄和精子 DNA 碎片化情况将患者分为四组：第 1 组：年龄≤39 岁且 TUNEL 检测≤20%；第 2 组：年龄≤39 岁且 TUNEL 检测>20%；第 3 组：年龄≥40 岁且 TUNEL 检测≤20%；第 4 组：年龄≥40 岁且 TUNEL 检测>20%。
各组间精液参数或受精率无显著差异。<20%精子 DNA 碎片化组的其他参数存在显著差异，包括囊胚形成率较高（第 1 组：63%和第 3 组：60% vs. 第 2 组：43%和第 4 组：41%，p<0.05）和扩张囊胚形成率较高（第 1 组：42%和第 3 组：40% vs. 第 2 组：21%和第 4 组：18%，p<0.05）。第 4 组的流产率显著高于其他组（42%和 46% vs. 第 1、2、3 组的 5%、25%和 5%，p<0.05）。
本研究结果表明，男性精子 DNA 碎片化水平较高时，IVF 的囊胚形成率较低。年龄 40 岁以上的男性夫妇的流产率也较高。这些结果强调了需要向年龄 40 岁以上的男性伴侣告知其生育治疗中存在的潜在风险。
