“…While surgical sperm retrieval is an effective method for helping couples with azoospermia conceive, there is also evidence that using testicular and/or epididymal sperm for ICSI may enhance outcomes for couples in which the male partner has an abnormal ejaculated sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) [ 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. An elevated SDF has been associated with many adverse reproductive outcomes, including lower natural pregnancy rates, lower ART pregnancy rates (including IUI, IVF, and ICSI), abnormal embryo development, and a greater likelihood of recurrent pregnancy loss [ 68 , 69 , 70 ]. Though many conditions have been associated with an elevated SDF—including environmental factors (i.e., cigarette smoking, radiation, chemotherapy, heat exposure, and medications), pathologic conditions (i.e., varicocele, malignancy, infections, obesity, chronic illness), and even iatrogenic causes (i.e., sperm cryopreservation)—these conditions may lead to DNA damage through similar molecular mechanisms [ 70 , 71 ].…”