#242 : Correlation of Sperm DNA Fragmentation with Laboratory Performance in Good and Poor Prognosis Patient Groups at Morula IVF Jakarta

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Infertility in males contributes to about 40% of cases of infertility in couples, either as the main factor or along with female factors. Fragmentation of sperm DNA is known as a cause of male infertility, which impacts the failure of couples to undergo assisted reproductive programs, such as embryo development and recurrent miscarriage. However, some literature studies are still debating this. This research aims to determine the correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation and IVF laboratory performance. METHODS: Infertile couples undergoing an in vitro fertilization program at Morula IVF Jakarta in 2022 are the samples for this study. We divided them into two groups: good prognosis (maternal age [Formula: see text]38 years, AFC[Formula: see text]7; AMH[Formula: see text]1.1) and poor prognosis (maternal age > 38 years, AFC <7, AMH<1.1). Sperm DNA fragmentation was examined using the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) assay. Correlation statistical analysis using the Spearman test (p-value <0.05). RESULTS: Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, it was found that the sperm DNA fragmentation rate >14.9% had a significant negative correlation with IVF laboratory performance, particularly in the fifth-day embryo quality and blastocyst rate in the good prognosis group. Whereas in the group with poor prognosis, all laboratory performance parameters were not affected by high sperm DNA fragmentation values. CONCLUSIONS: Sperm DNA fragmentation rate > 14.9% correlated with fifth-day embryo quality and a lower blastocyst rate in the good prognosis group.