The relationship of sperm DNA fragmentation index with the outcomes of in-vitro fertilisation-embryo transfer and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and the outcomes of in-vitro fertilisation-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Sperm DFI in 116 patients for IVF and 63 patients for ICSI were detected with acridine orange test (AOT), and all the cases were divided into DFI ≤ 30% group and DFI > 30% group according to the DFI value; then, the relationship of DFI with the outcomes of IVF/ICSI were analysed. Both in IVF and ICSI cycles, good embryo rate and spontaneous abortion rate in DFI > 30% group were significantly different from that in DFI ≤ 30% group, meanwhile, the fertilisation rate and cleavage rate were similar in two groups. In ICSI cycles, there was a significantly negative correlation between the DFI value and the rates of embryo implantation and pregnancy; the couples with DFI > 30% had significantly lower embryo implantation rate and pregnancy rate than the ones with DFI ≤ 30%. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis demonstrated that the DFI value were statistically significant predictors of pregnancy. It is concluded that DNA-damaged sperm could have a potential adverse effect on embryo quality and progression of pregnancy as well as the outcomes of ICSI.