BACKGROUND:

the reference pattern to evaluate male infertility is a semen analysis: although it is unable to detect sperm DNA fragmentation related to adverse reproductive outcomes.

OBJECTIVE:

to analyze the relationship between seminal parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation as well as assess the usefulness of semen analysis as predictor of fragmentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

retrospective, observational study performed in patients of the Instituto de Ciencias en Reproducción Humana Vida with infertility problems. Semen analysis and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) using the sperm chromatin dispersion test.

RESULTS:

206 patients were studied: 43 (20.9%) with normal sperm and 163 (79.1%) with an impaired seminal parameter. Of the individuals with normal sperm, 8 (18.6%) had moderate fragmentation and those who had at least one seminal parameter impaired 49 (30.1%) reported moderate fragmentation and 22 (13.5%) critical fragmentation. We found a negative correlation between the DNA fragmentation index and the motility, vitality and concentration (p<0.0001). We found no correlation whatsoever with the remaining seminal parameters. The fragmentation measurements increased as the number of impaired parameters increased. The odds ratio of moderate and critical fragmentation in patients with oligozoospermia was 2.2 and 1.9; with asthenozoospermia 8.0 and 26.2; con necrozoospermia 10.5 and 18.8; and with ≥ 3 seminal impairments 4.6 and 14.2, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

in patients with asthenozoospermia, necrozoospermia or oligozoospermia or with ≥ 3 impaired seminal parameters, we recommend performing a DNA fragmentation test.

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