title: Positive association of sperm dysfunction in the pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is one of the most frustrating and difficult areas in reproductive medicine, because the aetiology is often unknown and there are few evidence-based diagnostic and treatment strategies. RPL diagnosis is mainly focused on the female partner. The male factor contributing in evaluation of RPL has been less investigated, it is restricted to karyotype and basic semen analysis, assessment of functionality of sperm is largely ignored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of sperm factors in RPL through regular semen analysis preceded with sperm function tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a case control study of 95 males whose partner has experienced two or more pregnancy loss as case and 37 volunteers who had fathered child/children without the history of RPL as control group. Basic semen analysis and sperm function test (Nuclear chromatin decondensation {NCD}, Hypo osmotic swelling {HOS} and Acrosome intactness test {AIT} was performed. The results were analysed by performing Independent-sample t-test using SPSS (version 14.0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One individual had anatomical abnormality which was confirmed through trans-rectal ultrasound scanning and RPL group showed statistically significant (p<0.05) value for NCD, HOS and AIT and 36.8% of RPL individuals had reduced score for sperm count and motility. Less than 4% normal morphology was recorded in 16.8% individuals of RPL group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed that the positive association of sperm dysfunction in RPL cases, hence male may be considered for a routine part of the evaluation along with his partner in the near future in order to achieve desirable outcome.
authors.affiliation: Junior Research Scholar, Department of Studies in Zoology, Manasagangotri , Mysore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: P
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Studies in Zoology, Manasagangotri , Mysore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Suttur S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Malini
keywords: Semen parameters; Sperm function tests; Spermatozoa