DNA fragmentation worth it?

[Tiger37]

Hi,

We’ve had 1 fresh and 1 frozen embryo transfer, both unsuccessful. At the review, we asked if there is anything else worth testing before trying again as we are moving from NHS to self-funded.

The doctor initially suggested a sperm DNA fragmentation test and said if this showed an issue they could use a Zymot and they would recommend my husband take Impryl for 3 months. However when I got the leaflet through about Zymot it said you need 1 million sperm and we are in the 1000s, hence the reason for the original referral.

I spoke to the doctor again to query this as we wouldn’t be able to use Zymot and my husband already took Impryl for 3 months before the last cycle and is happy to do so again so she said just to do that and not bother with the DNA test.

I did ask if there was an issue with the DNA could this mean we couldn’t use the sperm but as we got 3 fertilised eggs from 5 mature last time and 2 good quality blastocysts she said that wouldn’t be an issue.

We already have to have ICSI due to the sperm count, so I’m just wondering if there is any benefit to a DNA fragmentation test if it won’t make any difference to the treatment? Our clinic doesn’t offer it so we’d also be potentially looking at having to travel several hours to get a test or posting one abroad. Wondering if anyone else has had one and if it made any difference.

Thanks.

[Newbeginnings24]

Hi, we similarly had 2 failed IVF cycles and then my husband took the sperm DNA fragmentation test which came back as high. He’s been taking impryl 2-3 mo since then and we’ll try ICSI this time.

The other suggestion the consultant had was to only do 24 hrs of abstinence before the egg collection rather than 2-5 days to get younger less damaged sperm. Sometimes they do testicular retrieval but hopefully we don’t have to do that just yet. He may have to check for varicocele (not clear if that’s an issue yet) but we didn’t have time before this cycle.

I’m not sure if any of this will make a difference, we won’t know for a few weeks. I feel for you, it’s so hard to know whether to go for these expensive tests, especially if the treatment isn’t all that different! We mainly felt like we wanted to check all the possibilities before trying again. Wishing you best of luck!

[Nabsal in reply to Newbeginnings24]

Hi very sorry . My clinic recommended me not to have dna fragmentation test as they said even after this test we do the same icsi and asked us to take omaga 3 , proxeed men schaty one in morning one in evening in organelle juice mix it and have it , ubiquinol 200mg solgar , vitamin D vitamin c with proxeed one tablet in morning one in evening with proxeed 500mg

Wear lose boxers , eat healthy no red meat no sugary food at all. Go for less carb and more fruit and vegetables specially berries and pineapple specially pineapple core. No hot water shower, when have to give sample give less then two days like they are hardly two days old. Drink lot of water definitely makes changes. No coffee or alcohol. Best of luck 🤞

[Nabsal]

please read my reply I sposed to write to you but write in other lady reply please read that good luck 🤞