A recent news story has brought fertility screening into the spotlight. A sperm donor, unaware his sperm carried a rare genetic mutation, passed on a gene that raised the risk of cancer for hundreds of children. While later genetic testing helped uncover this issue, checking just for inherited diseases is only part of the picture. There’s another important part of sperm health that often gets missed: how healthy the sperm DNA is overall.
Genetic screening looks for specific, known changes in a man’s DNA, but it doesn’t tell the whole story about sperm health. There’s another, more common issue, called sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), that can have a big impact on fertility. Unlike rare genetic mutations, high SDF levels are often seen in people struggling to conceive. For anyone trying for a baby, knowing the difference helps you make better choices and can boost your chances of success.
What is Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF)?
Every sperm cell carries DNA – the instructions for a future child. Sperm DNA fragmentation means there are breaks or damage in that DNA. If you picture DNA as a long, twisted ladder, healthy sperm have a ladder that’s complete. But with SDF, some of those rungs are broken or missing.
This type of damage isn’t the same as a genetic mutation. Genetic mutations are changes in the actual code of the DNA, like a typo that changes the meaning of a sentence. SDF is more like the ladder being snapped or missing pieces, not the words themselves. Both can be serious, but they happen for different reasons, and you need different tests to pick them up.
Sperm DNA damage can happen for lots of reasons. It could be due to lifestyle choices, like excessive drinking, smoking, an unhealthy diet, caffeine, or stress. Being around pollution and chemicals can increase your risk. Certain health conditions – like infections or varicoceles (swollen veins in the scrotum) – can also play a part. Plus, as men get older, sperm DNA fragmentation tends to be higher. Lastly, it can happen during spermatogenesis (the production and development of mature spermatozoa).
The Impact of Damaged Sperm DNA on Fertility
When sperm with damaged DNA join with an egg, the egg tries its best to fix the broken parts. Eggs are quite good at repairing some damage, but there’s a limit to what they can do. If the sperm DNA is too badly damaged, the egg can’t always repair it all.
This can cause a range of problems and heartache for people trying for a baby:
- Failed Fertilisation: The damaged DNA may prevent the embryo from developing correctly from the very beginning.
- Recurrent Miscarriage: A certain type of high SDF is strongly linked to early pregnancy loss. The embryo may implant, but its compromised genetic material prevents it from developing further, resulting in a miscarriage.
- Failed IVF/ICSI Cycles: Even with advanced treatments like IVF or ICSI, using sperm with high DNA fragmentation can lead to poor-quality embryos that fail to implant or develop. This results in costly and heartbreaking failed cycles.
- Potential Health Issues in Offspring: While research is ongoing, some studies suggest a possible link between semen quality and certain health conditions or genetic disorders in children.
For years, checking male fertility has mostly meant looking at a semen sample under the microscope. Doctors measure things like sperm count, how well the sperm move, and if they look the right shape. This information is helpful, but it doesn’t indicate whether the DNA in the sperm is healthy. In fact, it’s possible to have a semen analysis test that looks “normal” and still have sperm with high levels of DNA damage.
Why We Should Be Testing Donor Sperm For SDF Too
The news story is a strong reminder that careful checks on donors are essential. According to current guidelines, the health checks for sperm donors include semen analysis and testing for certain infectious and genetic conditions. However, we know that this current screening process doesn’t identify damage that is present in the sperm DNA. This damage can not only affect fertility but can also be passed on to the future generation, affecting their health. Relying just on genetic tests means we might miss other problems that can affect fertility, like sperm DNA fragmentation.
Adding SDF testing alongside the current screening process – whether you’re using a donor or not – gives clinics and couples a much clearer idea of someone’s fertility. It’s an extra check that goes further than a normal semen analysis, giving us a deeper insight into sperm health.
For fertility clinics and sperm banks, SDF testing helps to:
- Make sure only the best quality sperm is used in treatment.
- Lower the risk of failed cycles and miscarriages for patients.
- Give a much clearer picture of male fertility.
- Guide treatment decisions, helping clinicians choose the most appropriate assisted reproduction technique.
For couples and anyone having fertility treatment, SDF testing can:
- Help uncover why you might be finding it hard to conceive, or why you’ve had repeated miscarriages.
- Give your clinic better information to choose the treatment that’s right for you.
- Ensure the highest quality sperm is used in treatments.
- Offer peace of mind that every possible measure has been taken to ensure a successful outcome.
Take Control of Your Fertility Journey with Examen
At Examen, we focus on giving you clear, reliable answers about sperm DNA health. Our advanced SDF tests show how strong and healthy the DNA is in your sperm. This helps both clinics and people trying to conceive make informed choices on the path to parenthood.
If you’d like to find out how Examen’s SDF testing can support your fertility journey or help your clinic deliver even better care, contact our team today.