Description

Sperm DNA Damage

 Traditional sperm tests for sperm concentration, motility
analysis, and morphological evaluation (ie, semen analysis) are unfortunately
not enough to evaluate sperm at the molecular level. Eggs fertilized with
sperm in vitro fertilization treatment appears normal sperm analysis, performed
after fertilization and development of embryos selected according to the
quality obtained is placed in the uterus of the mother. However, if there
is any DNA damage in the sperm, an embryo with an imbalanced genetic structure
may form. As a result, it may cause the termination of pregnancy or
miscarriage before it can be detected. For this reason, DNA Damage Test
has been put into practice in sperm, which is a breakthrough in in vitro
fertilization technology.

Sperm FISH and DNA Fragmentation tests are applied to evaluate the DNA
structure of the sperm, which is different from the routine sperm test in
recurrent IVF failures; Sperms obtained by ejaculation are stained with a
fluorescent probe that interacts with the DNA molecule and as a result of the
analysis, damaged sperms are detected. Diagnosis and treatment are planned
in the light of the information obtained. According to accepted standards,
the rate of damaged sperm is expected to be below 15% in numerical
analysis. If the damage is over 50%, it is considered severely damaged.

to whom I will suggest this test

• Unexplained infertility
cases,

• Couples with slow

embryo development,

• Patients with abnormal embryo
development, • Recurrent IVF / ICSI failure

• Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

• Patients with severe sperm malformations

Causes of Sperm DNA Damage

In men, the most important factor in sperm DNA damage is
oxidative stress. This stress is mostly caused by infection, use of some
drugs, smoking, alcohol, excessive caffeine consumption, intense stress,
environmental and occupational pollutants.

Treatment of Sperm DNA Damage

DNA damage cannot be
treated due to some reasons but if free radicals, is designed to protect
against oxidative stress lifestyle and dietary changes, DNA damage can help to
reduce their level.

Other treatment options

• antibiotic use in the presence of an infection.
• Lifestyle changes
• Diet – fresh foods, especially foods containing vitamin C or antioxidant.
• Varicocele treatment.
• Medicines containing Vitamin E, which reduces reactive Oxygen Species that
cause DNA damage.
• Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA) (DNA damage that post-testicular level
occurs, testicular sperm, emptied can have a better DNA integrity of sperm.)

Sperm DNA The treatments for reducing the damage to be evaluated by the second
sperm test performed after 3-4 months.