title: Is sperm DNA damage associated with IVF embryo quality? A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sperm DNA damage is common amongst infertile men and may adversely impact natural reproduction, IUI-assisted reproduction and to a lesser degree IVF pregnancy. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of sperm DNA damage on embryo quality and/or development at IVF and ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review of studies that evaluated sperm DNA damage and embryo development and/or quality after IVF and/or ICSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 28 studies (8 IVF, 12 ICSI and 8 mixed IVF-ICSI studies) that evaluated the relationship between sperm DNA damage and embryo quality. These 28 studies evaluated 3226 treatment cycles (1033 IVF and 873 ICSI, 1320 mixed IVF-ICSI cycles) and demonstrated highly variable characteristics. In 11 of the 28 studies (1/8 IVF, 5/12 ICSI and 5/8 mixed IVF-ICSI studies), sperm DNA damage was associated with poor embryo quality and/or development, whereas the remaining 17 studies showed no relationship between sperm DNA damage and embryo quality and/or development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic review indicates that the evaluable studies are heterogeneous and that overall, there is no consistent relationship between sperm DNA damage and embryo quality and/or development. The data also suggest that the influence of sperm DNA damage on embryo quality/development may be more significant in ICSI compared to IVF cycles.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ziniarmand@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jamal
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: Naif
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Hathal
mesh_terms: D004249:DNA Damage; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*