title: Meta-analysis of sperm DNA fragmentation using the sperm chromatin structure assay.
abstract: Meta-analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship of sperm DNA fragmentation on pregnancy outcome using in-vivo fertilization, IUI, routine IVF and ICSI. Couples with no known infertility problems were 7.0 times (CI 3.17, 17.7) more likely to achieve a pregnancy/delivery if the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was <30% (n = 362, P = 0.0001) using in-vivo fertilization. Infertile couples using IUI were 7.3 times (CI 2.88, 18.3) more likely to achieve a pregnancy/delivery if their DFI was <30% (n = 518, P = 0.0001). With routine IVF, infertile couples were approximately 2.0 times (CI 1.02, 2.84) more likely to become pregnant if their DFI was <30% (n = 381, P = 0.03). For ICSI and/or routine IVF, the results showed a non-significant trend where infertile couples were 1.6 times (CI 0.92, 2.94) more likely to achieve a pregnancy/delivery if the DFI was <30% (n = 323,P = 0.06). The in-vivo and IUI meta-analyses were similar, indicating that IUI infertility patients with <30% DFI have as good a statistical probability of obtaining a pregnancy/delivery as in-vivo presumably fertile couples with the same DFI. These meta-analyses show that the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay infertility test was significantly predictive for reduced pregnancy success using in-vivo, IUI and routine IVF, and to a lesser extent ICSI fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Microbiology, Box 2170, ASC, South Dakota State University, Brookings, 57007, USA. scsa@brookings.net
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evenson
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wixon
mesh_terms: D002843:Chromatin; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin