title: Evaluation of sperm DNA damage in men from infertile Saudi couples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate sperm DNA quality of the male partner in Saudi infertile couples in order to establish prevalence of sperm DNA damage and to help future identification of responsible etiologies and possible treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of semen analysis and sperm DNA integrity using the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) technique in male partners of infertile couples examined for infertility in a dedicated fertility clinic, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 1, 2009-December 31, 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reports of semen and SCD analysis of 405 men were reviewed; 384 met the inclusion criteria. Normal semen parameters were demonstrated in 133 (34.6%) male subjects, while 251 (65.4%) had ≥ 1 abnormal semen parameters. Saudi male partners showed increasing level of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) at 25.4 (range, 5-97). Men with normal semen parameters had a significantly lower DFI (17.5; range, 5-32) than did men with abnormal semen parameters (49; range, 21-97, p < 0.001). DFI > 30% was encountered in 59.1% of the study group. Teratospermia single abnormality was significantly associated with DFI > 30% (p < 0.00007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates a high percentage of sperm DNA damage in the male partner in Saudi infertile couples, and the damage was more obvious in men with suboptimal semen parameters. Patients with abnormal sperm morphology showed a high rate of DNA fragmentation.
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Binsaleh
authors.forename: Raed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Qahtani
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madbouly
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.forename: Basim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abu-Rafea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000166:cytology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin