The Association Between Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Idiopathic Early Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

<p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><p>Various etiologies of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) have been extensively studied, but more than half of them still remain unknown. Male factor may play a role in incidence of idiopathic early recurrent pregnancy loss. Sperm DNA fragmentation as one of sperm test for male factor can be measured and expressed by a DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between sperm DNA fragmentation and the incidence of idiopathic early recurrent pregnancy loss.</p><p><strong>Material &amp; Methods</strong></p><p>A prospective study was done by recruiting 40 cases of male couple from patients with a history of idiopathic early recurrent pregnancy loss and 40 cases of control from normal fertile population from May 2010 to September 2011 in Halim Fertility Center. Sperm DNA fragmentation was detected by halosperm kit.</p><p><strong>Results</strong><br />Both of groups were comparable in terms of the age of male patients, body mass index, duration of infertility, history of miscarriage and sperm parameters. Sperm DFI in the case group was 34.12%. and in the control group was 16.02%. There was significantly higher sperm DFI in the case group than in the control group. Sperm DFI &lt;30 was increased in control group (95%) compared with case group (40%). Sperm DFI ≥30 was increased in case group (60%) compared with control group (5%). There was a significant association between sperm DFI ≥30 and idiopathic early recurrent pregnancy loss (p&lt;0,05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>There is an association between higher sperm DNA fragmentation and incidence of idiopathic early recurrent pregnancy loss.</p>