DNA Fragmentation in Human Spermatozoa and Pregnancy Rates after Intrauterine Insemination. Should the DFI Threshold Be Lowered?

Abstract

Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) can be analyzed by a flow cytometric assay after treatment with acid and acridine orange. In this prospective, cohort study, the value of DFI was determined in a semen analysis collected before fertility treatment (baselineDFI) in 146 couples and during 1–3 intrauterine inseminations (IUI) in 211 couples (511 cycles). The pregnancy rate (PR)/cycle was 9.9% if baselineDFI was >10 and 21.7% if baselineDFI was ≤10, (p 10 and 14.2% if baselineDFI was ≤10 (p 10 and 45.5% if baselineDFI was ≤10 (p 10 and 34% if baselineDFI was ≤10 (p 10 could advice against timed coitus and non-stimulated IUI cycles. Analysis for DFI performed before treatment provides information about PR and LBR after IUI.

Keywords

• male infertility
• spermatozoa
• DNA fragmentation
• intrauterine insemination
• pregnancy