Recommendations for DNA fragmentation test

[Shwet_16]

hi all,

I am looking for a clinic or a lab who does DNA fragmentation test. I have done some research and the prices are quite high.

I am also looking for the test results to be shared in a week as I have an egg retrieval planned in two weeks time.

Does anyone has any recommendations? Pls message me privately.

thank you xx

[soccerkt6]

Hey lovely, Fertility Solutions does DNA frag tests and you don't need a referral to go there. They have clinics in London and Bucks. Unfortunately, you're not going to be able to get results before your egg retrieval. Semen samples for the DNA frag tests have to be sent off to a lab in Northern Ireland so it's normally 3-5 weeks to receive results.

[Shwet_16 in reply to soccerkt6]

Thank you x I am really confused whether I should proceed with egg collection or not as I have read even with good embryos the implantation can fail if there is high DNA fragmentation so what’s the point!

[soccerkt6 in reply to Shwet_16]

What's your history so far? Do you have a reason to suspect high fragmentation or are you just trying to check all possibilities?

[MontsJ in reply to soccerkt6]

soccerkt6 can I ask, do all centres send DNA frag tests off to NI?

[soccerkt6 in reply to MontsJ]

It depends. There are a few different methods for testing for DNA frag but if a clinic is using the Comet test (which is the most common one in the UK), then it’s most likely going through ExamenLab in NI.

[MontsJ in reply to soccerkt6]

Great thanks. And I’m new to looking into DNA frag testing, is the comet the best test to have?

[Shwet_16]

hello, I am trying to check all possibilities and have reasons to suspect. I had a miscarriage at 4.5 weeks ( conceived naturally ) and a failed implantation failure last year. I also noted that some of my embryos stopped developing after day 3 in the first round.

I have also noted that my husband’s body is generally warm and it has been like that for years but I never thought it could harm the sperms. It’s not like he has a temperature but it’s quite warm. He also complains of leg pain. Additionally his life style hasn’t been great and I believe everything catches up. I have been giving him supplements to help with oxidative stress but I don’t know how much of it can be negated.

I have a low AMH and advanced age. I am 43 and I don’t want to take any chances anymore is it’s financially and mentally draining!

I have messaged you about Macs. My doctor suggested that technique for the 3 round of egg retrieval.

Which clinic were you with? Pls can you PM me.

[soccerkt6 in reply to Shwet_16]

If you're looking for some quick feedback before undertaking another cycle you might want to book in to see a private urologist/andrologist. They should at least be able to check your partner for varicoceles which are the most common cause of DNA frag. If they discover a varicocele then you might want to consider delaying your cycle until he has it fixed. I can message you with a few recommendations for urologists.

If you're keen to get moving with another egg retrieval asap then using MACS (or PICSI, IMSI or ZyMot) are also decent options for helping select non-damaged sperm. We used PICSI and IMSI and it didn't really make a huge difference for us tbh, but every couple is different. I know plenty of women on here have seen improved results after their clinics used those techniques. I don't think it could hurt in any case. xx

[Shwet_16 in reply to soccerkt6]

Thank you x

[Cuppppatea in reply to Shwet_16]

Hey - I’d like to know any info about macs please

[Shwet_16 in reply to Cuppppatea]

I have been told by my clinic that we can use MACS plus PICSI.

With Macs healthiest sperms are used for fertilisation. I don’t know to what extent it filters out the sperms with high DNA drag. I did ask does it filter out sperms with less than 20% frag but they didn’t say anything. I googled but couldn’t find anything.

PICSi also helps to identify if there are any damaged DNA.

They both are more expensive than ICSI