Understanding DNA Fragmentation and Its Impact on Fertility
During an IVF procedure, sperms and eggs, naturally taken from the patients, are fertilized in a laboratory under controlled conditions. Before starting IVF, doctors conduct a Semen Analysis to confirm and treat any male factor insufficiency in the semen sample.
However, conventional semen analysis cannot detect gene-level problems in individual sperms. This is where the SCD Test (Sperm Chromatin Dispersion) becomes essential. It ensures the genetic quality of the sperm is not compromised, preventing challenges like implantation failure or miscarriage during IVF.
The Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) Test is a diagnostic procedure that inspects sperms at the genetic level. It evaluates whether the DNA material of sperms is fragmented, which directly impacts male fertility.
This test is simple, fast, and reliable, helping identify serious infertility factors in men. It also helps prevent implantation failure, miscarriage, and congenital diseases in offspring.
DNA Fragmentation refers to abnormalities in the DNA structure of sperms. It is a type of damage to the genetic material, which can affect embryo quality and lead to implantation failure or recurrent miscarriage after IVF.
Causes of DNA fragmentation include:
High levels of DNA fragmentation result in poor-quality embryos, leading to:
A semen sample is considered acceptable for IVF only if it has a DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) of less than 30%. A DFI above 30% indicates the sperms are unsuitable for IVF, even if Semen Analysis results appear normal.
A semen sample is collected from the patient under controlled conditions.
The sample is analyzed to detect DNA fragmentation levels using the SCD test.
The results are interpreted to determine the suitability of the sample for IVF.
Based on the results, a personalized treatment plan is recommended.