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Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Consequences for Reproduction

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Genetic Damage in Human Spermatozoa

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1166))

Abstract

DNA fragmentation, or the accumulation of single- and double-strand DNA breaks, is a common property of sperm, and an increase in the level of sperm DNA fragmentation is known to influence natural reproduction. The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on male infertility and assisted reproductive treatment (ART) outcomes remains controversial and is one of the most frequently debated topics of reproductive medicine. For the past 30 years, a number of assays have been developed to quantify the level of sperm DNA fragmentation. In this chapter, we review the causes of sperm DNA fragmentation, describe the commonly used tests to evaluate these abnormalities, and perform a systematic review of existing studies to determine the impact of sperm DNA fragmentation on male fertility and ART outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Luke Simon & Benjamin Emery

  2. Andrology and IVF Laboratories, Department of Surgery, and Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Douglas T. Carrell

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  1. Luke Simon
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  2. Benjamin Emery
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  3. Douglas T. Carrell
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Correspondence to Douglas T. Carrell .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Elisabetta Baldi

  2. Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Monica Muratori

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Simon, L., Emery, B., Carrell, D.T. (2019). Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Consequences for Reproduction. In: Baldi, E., Muratori, M. (eds) Genetic Damage in Human Spermatozoa. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1166. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21664-1_6

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