Repeated Implantation Failure

Nakshatra Clinic

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DNA fragmentation

Overview

In a time when in vitro fertilization may result in a pregnancy with just a small quantity of high-quality sperm, the genetic integrity of sperm is critical for fertilization success and proper embryo development. Men’s subfertility, IVF failure, and miscarriage may all be caused by sperm DNA fragmentation, a medical term used to describe aberrant genetic material found inside the sperm.
A healthy DNA molecule has a double-helix spiral structure that is kept together by cross-bonds and resembles a ladder. However, if even one of the DNA “rungs” breaks or becomes unstable, the whole genetic ladder becomes unstable and falls to pieces. As a consequence, the sperm is broken apart.
Chromosomal abnormalities caused by DNA fragmentation may result in birth problems. Age, testicular cancer, smoking, heat exposure, infection, and exposure to toxins/chemicals are frequent reasons for sperm fragmentation. Still, not all of them are understood completely at present.

About DNA fragmentation

DNA fragmentation

According to research, using a sperm DNA fragmentation test on an infertile male population has shown that about 25% had significant levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. Damage to sperm DNA may be caused by a variety of causes, including:

  • A high temperature in the scrotum
  • Because of severe fever bouts, a varicocele, or wearing too-tight clothing
  • Seminal infections
  • Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium that impairs sperm quality, is to blame for the infection
  • Pharmaceutical medications
  • Pesticides and pollution may damage sperm DNA.
  • Consumption of tobacco
  • Smoking reduces the quality of a man’s sperm. Smoking may lead to an increase in the number of sperm with faulty DNA
  • Advanced age
  • Sperm DNA fragmentation rises sharply with age, particularly after the age of 45 when fertility is most likely to decline

There are many other reasons why the DNA of sperm fragments (spermatogenesis), such as failing to detect and remove from the testes defective sperm, or an inadequate maturation process in the epididymis, may cause sperm DNA fragmentation (spermatogenesis).

However, research has demonstrated that the findings of semen analysis tests cannot consistently indicate whether or not a man is fertile or if a pregnancy will develop as a consequence of infertility therapy, even in the workup for male infertility. Therefore, clinical and research teams are now looking at other methods of finding out if a man is fertile or not.
Undamaged sperm and egg DNA is essential for successful embryo development. Sperm DNA damage is more frequent in infertile males, which may contribute to the men’s inability to conceive successfully.
Many infertile men have normal semen analysis findings with elevated DNA fragmentation. As a result of these connections, DNA integrity testing has become another way to gauge a woman’s reproductive potential.

Advantages associated with the sperm DNA fragmentation test include the following:

  • Provides a reliable examination of sperm DNA integrity, which may be useful in identifying males who are at risk of subfertility or infertility.
  • This website contains information that may be used to assist in the clinical diagnosis, management, and treatment of male fertility problems.
  • It has predictive significance in predicting the outcome of assisted conception therapy.