PGT-A and sperm DNA fragmentation link

[Ytrewq123]

hello, I wondered if anyone know whether there is a link between having high sperm DNA fragmentation, and abnormal PGT-A results? So if we decided to test our embryos, we would be able to rule out DNA fragmentation as an issue if the PGT-A results were normal? Or are they two completely separate things, and there could be issues with the sperm DNA and therefore the embryos, even if the embryos had the correct number of chromosomes?

[Debsdex11]

Hi Ytrewq, we looked into these as part of our IVF and the fragmentation is damage/breaks in the DNA itself, so PGT-A would help to pick up if there was a missing or added chromosome as a result of the fragmentation, but it wouldn’t pick up all issues. It does not detect structural abnormalities. There are other techniques they can use for sorting the sperm to pick the ones with least fragmentation, and they can do the time lapse analysis to see which embryos to pick. Also you can improve the sperm fragmentation quality by taking vitamins with anti oxidants, and avoiding any possible environmental toxins. Hope this helps, good luck xx

[Ytrewq123 in reply to Debsdex11]

Thank you for this so helpful, I did wonder if structural anomalies would not be picked up

[Hanj10]

my husband had high DNA fragmentation which we discovered after 5 miscarriages. When we did IVF he did 3 months of vitamins etc then we made our embryos using ICSI and PGTA tested them with half being ok and so far one has stuck and trying for a sibling with the others. It is my understanding that DNA frag can affect the chromosomes but also the embryo development. Good luck x

[Ytrewq123 in reply to Hanj10]

So sorry for your losses. I can’t seem to ever get past 5 weeks. Which makes me think it might be an endometrial thing, rather than chromosomal, but I don’t know enough about it. But my Coventry implantation clinic results all came back normal so I’m at a loss!

[Hanj10 in reply to Ytrewq123]

I was the same all around 5 weeks and my Coventry clinic results came back normal but I did the immune testing and came back high TH1/TH2 ratio so my successful pregnancy I did steroids and blood thinners and intralipids with pgta tested embryo and it worked! My first transfer from same batch with no immune protocol failed. Might be worth looking at immune testing? X

[Ytrewq123 in reply to Hanj10]

Oh wow, that’s amazing, who did you do the immune testing with (perhaps PM me, if you are happy to share more info)? Xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Ytrewq. Could you treat the DNA fragmentation first, then perhaps PGA testing before ICSI? Just my thoughts. Good luck. Diane

[Ytrewq123]

hi everyone thanks so much for your comments back. Really helpful to read your thoughts. The thing I’m worried about is we already have our embryos frozen, but I’ve had 4 (maybe 6) very early losses, and so thinking of doing PGT-A incase chromosome abnormalities are the issue. However if it’s not likely to pick up some issues with sperm DNA at the same time, maybe we need to consider doing that too to cover all bases to try and understand what’s going on.

[Monkeywap]

The jury is still very much out on the connection between DNA fragmentation and euploidy of embryos. If you read the literature there are studies that show both a correlation and no correlation. It does seem to be linked to embryo development though, so that might help you pick which ones to transfer. Good luck!

[Ytrewq123 in reply to Monkeywap]

Thank you, that’s so helpful, I had read similar things on the different outcomes of research, it’s useful to know embryo development has a link though. Thanks xx

[Monkeywap in reply to Ytrewq123]

I’ve done the same research! It’s also worth noting that PGT-A is a very narrow test, it literally counts the chromosomes so anything that isn’t a full or partial chromosome addition/deletion won’t be picked up. Most genetic disorders (that result in a live birth) won’t be picked up by PgT-A. I’m a geneticist so if you have any questions please drop me a DM

[Ytrewq123 in reply to Monkeywap]

That is so helpful to know- thank you so much! On embryo development, do you think that additions/deletions and similar which aren’t picked up by PGT-A, would cause most embryos to fail before reaching blastocyst day 5, or after this point is just as likely? Does PGT-SR or PGT-M pick up these other issues? Do you get offered PGT-SR also if you have issues with your own karotype testing? That’s another test I was considering too, but have been told very low likelihood and not to bother..