Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA®) related to blastocyst rate, pregnancy rate, and spontaneous abortion in IVF and ICSI cycles

ObjectiveTo review sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing as an important sperm function test in addition to conventional semen analysis. High SDF is negatively associated with semen quality, the fertilisation process, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcome. Over recent decades, different SDF assays have been developed and reviewed extensively to assess their applicability and accuracy as advanced sperm function tests. Amongst them, the standardisation of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferased UTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay with a bench top flow cytometer in clinical practice deserves special mention with a threshold value of 16.8% to differentiate infertile men with DNA damage from fertile men.Materials and methodsA systematic literature search was performed through the PubMed, Medline, and ScienceDirect databases using the keywords ‘sperm DNA fragmentation’ and ‘laboratory assessment’. Non-English articles were excluded and studies related to humans were only included.ResultsOf the 618 identified, 87 studies (original research and reviews) and in addition eight book chapters meeting the selection criteria were included in this review. In all, 366 articles were rejected in the preliminary screening and a further 165 articles related to non-human subjects were excluded.ConclusionThere are pros and cons to all the available SDF assays. TUNEL is a reliable technique with greater accuracy and as an additional diagnostic test in Andrology laboratories along with basic semen analysis can predict fertility outcome, and thus direct the choice of an assisted reproductive technology procedure for infertile couples. Also, the TUNEL assay can be used as a prognostic test and results are beneficial in deciding personalised treatment for infertile men.

show abstract

“…Negative impact on reduced cleavage [90] and blastulation rate [91] decreased blastocyst development [92] …”

Section: Current Status and Future Directions In Sdf Assaymentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review on sperm DNA fragmentation in male factor infertility: Laboratory assessment

Selvam

Agarwal

2018

Arab Journal of Urology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sperm DNA damage has been found to be adversely affected by age as well as some medical conditions including testicular trauma or cancer (Agarwal and Said, 2003;Chen et al, 2004;Moskovtsev et al, 2006;Sanocka et al, 2003). High sperm DNA damage was found to be associated with increased miscarriage rates in and higher rates of spontaneous abortions at 12 weeks of gestation (Gandini et al, 2004;Virro et al, 2004). In contrast, Bungum et al (2007) showed no statistically significant association between high DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and early pregnancy loss when DFI was higher than 30%, however they could not exclude the fact that DFI levels higher than 60% were associated with a higher risk of early pregnancy loss.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequency and severity of sperm DNA damage in patients with confirmed cases of male infertility of different aetiologies

Moskovtsev

Mullen

Lecker

et al. 2010

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Men with high sperm DNA damage have a reduced fertility potential. Correlation of specific clinical factors to the degree of sperm DNA damage remains unclear. This retrospective study evaluated the frequency and severity of sperm DNA damage in men with different aetiologies of male factor infertility. Patients with male factor infertility (n=288) underwent flow cytometry-based sperm DNA damage assessment and results were correlated with the major aetiologies of male infertility: varicocele, bacteriospermia and idiopathic infertility. Sperm DNA damage was significantly correlated to the patient's age, sperm motility, normal morphology and vitality (P < 0.001). High sperm DNA damage (30%) was most frequently found in the group with bacteriospermia (48%), compared with 30% of the men with varicoceles and 22% of the men with idiopathic infertility (P < 0.02). While some tendency was observed for a correlation of increasing sperm DNA damage in patients with grade III and bilateral varicoceles, this difference did not reach statistical significance. The data support the importance of proper physical and laboratory investigations of the fertility status in men to correctly diagnose and treat male infertility.

show abstract

“…Elevated levels of sperm DNA fragmentation have been significantly associated with a negative pregnancy outcome (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). If varicocele repair can decrease elevated sperm DNA fragmentation, pregnancy outcomes should generally improve.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant decrease in sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation after varicocelectomy

Werthman¹,

Wixon

Kasperson

et al. 2008

Fertility and Sterility

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA®) related to blastocyst rate, pregnancy rate, and spontaneous abortion in IVF and ICSI cycles

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

A systematic review on sperm DNA fragmentation in male factor infertility: Laboratory assessment

A systematic review on sperm DNA fragmentation in male factor infertility: Laboratory assessment

Frequency and severity of sperm DNA damage in patients with confirmed cases of male infertility of different aetiologies

Significant decrease in sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation after varicocelectomy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About