Slađana Malić Vončina1, Barbara Golob1, Alojz Ihan2, Andreja Nataša Kopitar2, Mojca Kolbezen1, Branko Zorn3. 1. Andrology Unit, Reproductive Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 2. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 3. Andrology Unit, Reproductive Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: branko.zorn@kclj.si.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether DNA fragmentation and/or mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) predict natural conception better than standard sperm parameters. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Eighty-five infertile and 51 fertile men. INTERVENTION(S): Assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation, MMP, and standard semen parameters over a 6- to 12-month observation period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison between the results of DNA fragmentation, MMP, and standard sperm parameters alone or combined and achievement of natural conception. RESULT(S): Twenty-six of the 85 (31%) men from infertile couples conceived naturally. The median values of DNA fragmentation and MMP in the men who conceived within the observation period were similar to those in the fertile controls. Optimal threshold values of DNA fragmentation and MMP were 25% as determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under the curve [AUC], 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58-0.82) and 62.5% (AUC, 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.80), respectively. The men in the infertile group with values of DNA fragmentation ≤25% and with MMP values ≥62.5% had significantly higher odds for conception (odds ratio [OR], 5.22; 95% CI 1.82-14.93] and OR, 4.67; 95% CI 1.74-12.5, respectively). Normal semen analysis alone had no predictive value for natural conception (OR, 1.84; 95% CI 0.67-5.07]). Both sperm function tests combined had significant odds for natural conception (OR, 8.24; 95% CI 2.91-23.33]), with a probability of 0.607 (60.7%) for both normal values and 0.158 (15.8%) for abnormal values. CONCLUSION(S): Sperm DNA fragmentation and MMP combined may be superior to standard semen parameters for the prediction of natural conception.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether DNA fragmentation and/or mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) predict natural conception better than standard sperm parameters. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Eighty-five infertile and 51 fertile men. INTERVENTION(S): Assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation, MMP, and standard semen parameters over a 6- to 12-month observation period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison between the results of DNA fragmentation, MMP, and standard sperm parameters alone or combined and achievement of natural conception. RESULT(S): Twenty-six of the 85 (31%) men from infertile couples conceived naturally. The median values of DNA fragmentation and MMP in the men who conceived within the observation period were similar to those in the fertile controls. Optimal threshold values of DNA fragmentation and MMP were 25% as determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under the curve [AUC], 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58-0.82) and 62.5% (AUC, 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.80), respectively. The men in the infertile group with values of DNA fragmentation ≤25% and with MMP values ≥62.5% had significantly higher odds for conception (odds ratio [OR], 5.22; 95% CI 1.82-14.93] and OR, 4.67; 95% CI 1.74-12.5, respectively). Normal semen analysis alone had no predictive value for natural conception (OR, 1.84; 95% CI 0.67-5.07]). Both sperm function tests combined had significant odds for natural conception (OR, 8.24; 95% CI 2.91-23.33]), with a probability of 0.607 (60.7%) for both normal values and 0.158 (15.8%) for abnormal values. CONCLUSION(S): Sperm DNA fragmentation and MMP combined may be superior to standard semen parameters for the prediction of natural conception.
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