Sperm DNA fragmentation......

[Aleelilook]

Hello all! We've got our follow up appointment on 3 weeks and I've done lots of research into why our embryos are fertilising but not progressing, and it keeps popping up about sperm DNA fragmentation. My husbands samples have always been deemed excellent, but I know the fragmentation isn't tested. I just wondered if anyone had any experience of this and what you did? I've put my husband on a preconception pack with a variety of vitamins etc, and I'm back in my hundreds of vitamins! We are going to go even more organic, and lots of walks with the new pup when he can go out! But if anyone has any other tips to help with the spent then that would be great! Xxx

[Kyell2]

Hi, just wondering if they have completed any genetic tests on your hubby?

We had these and that's how his DNA fragmentation was discovered? We also went to a genetic counsellor and she is running further tests to see what material has been lost.

Hope that helps x

[Aleelilook in reply to Kyell2]

Ah thank you. No he's only had the basic semen analysis which they said was excellent, so I'm possibly jumping to conclusions, but it's the next step to follow I think, so think we might have the commit test, thanks lovely xx

[Kyell2 in reply to Aleelilook]

Yeah my OH had no sperm at all in his sample with his fragmentation so hopefully you are all fine 😀

[Aleelilook in reply to Kyell2]

Ah thank you lovely xx

[TeamMonkey]

Hi,

We haven't had this test but did consider it. As we have male infertility. From my understand it tells you the % DNA damage, which when I asked my clinic what they do if it's high I was told put hubby on vitamins, cut out all baddies and use ICSI.. we were already doing all this!

From my research sperm affects fertilisation rates, and embryo development from day 3. This cycle lower fertilisation and only 2 embryo made it to day 5. But it does only take 1 as I'm 7 weeks pregnant with the b grade embryo. To show this can work even with issues xx

[Aleelilook in reply to TeamMonkey]

Ah congratulations!! Yeah I was in two minds because we are doing all of the above so not sure if knowing would help?!?! Xx

[TeamMonkey in reply to Aleelilook]

Thank you! I think you would only benefit if you went to see a good urologist. Like dr Ramsey. As sadly clinics are clueless with male issues! At what stage did your embryos stop developing? X

[Aleelilook in reply to TeamMonkey]

Well first round they got to day only 2 got to day 4, second round we got one day 5 blastocyst and a bfp, but suffered a mmc at 9 weeks, then round three 7 embryos, and only 1 blastocyst of poor quality, so we've had two day 5 blastocysts over 3 rounds and 15 embryos! Aghhhhhh a year of my life right there!!! Xx

[TeamMonkey in reply to Aleelilook]

Have the drs given you their opinions on where they think the issue lies?

I only have experience with sperm issues! But how many mature eggs? As I've had 2 cycles, first cycle I was 32, I wasn't stimulated too much got 9 eggs 6 mature, all fertilised and all went to day 5 2 were excellent, the rest went down hill and couldn't be froze. I had my son with 1, had a FET this year and that one miscarried. Fresh cycle at new clinic, 22 eggs but only 13 mature and only 6 fertilised. I had ohss and think quality was affected, as we had 2 blasts transferred but much lower quality. Sperm was lower quality too! I don't think getting only a few eggs is a sign something's wrong it's just getting that 1 that's good and can stick! Xx

[Aleelilook]

Well hoping in the follow up they might give us a clue!! As we have always been "unexplained" it's been a bit of a trial and error with everything, I'm just trying to go in there armed with different questions so we don't just end up doing the exact same thing over and over again and hoping for a different outcome! Xx

[Hidden]

We had the test & were told that DH had severe DNA fragmentation & our clinic had in Spain wouldn't consider doing treatment until he's been taking antioxidants for 3 months. To be honest, the only thing it helped with was the fact that DH was refusing to take vitamins, cut down on drinking & eat healthily until after that test! We haven't had a re-test as the doctor said there wasn't really any more that could be done if it hadn't improved! Xx

[anna0908]

Our clinic said instead of paying for expensive test, better just to put hubby on proxceed (we were already doing icsi which would have been other recommendation if problem with fragmentation). Had much better embryos after this. From reading i understand the sperm takes over day 3 to 5 of embryo development and this is where we struggled with our embryo development 1st time. Xx