Assessment of sperm factors possibly involved in early recurrent pregnancy loss

Abstract

To evaluate and compare standard sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation of sperm plasma membranes, antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, and sperm chromatin integrity in ejaculates from men whose partners have a history of recurrent pregnancy loss and from a control group of men with recent fertility. Descriptive study. Reproduction Program, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Twenty-three couples with history of recurrent pregnancy loss and 11 men with recent fertility. Semen samples from control men and men whose partner had a history of recurrent pregnancy loss were examined for differences in semen parameters, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, DNA fragmentation index, and sperm preparation. Migration-sedimentation method was used to collect motile spermatozoa from fresh ejaculates for examination for semen parameters. Men from the control group had spermatozoa with higher percentage of normal sperm morphology, concentration, progressive motility, and antioxidant capacity compared with men from the recurrent pregnancy loss group, who had spermatozoa with higher teratozoospermia and higher lipid peroxidation. Motile sperm fractions from both groups had spermatozoa with better sperm parameters compared with freshly ejaculated sperm. This study strengthens the current literature associating sperm quality with recurrent pregnancy loss, and emphasizes the importance of evaluating male factor by tests such as lipid peroxidation and measuring antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma in addition to conventional sperm parameters.