Improving Conception With Sperm Testing

Discussions around fertility tend to still put most of the focus on women, even though men account for the sole cause in a third of all infertility cases in heterosexual couples in the US. While shame and stigma often surround conversations around infertility, the reality is that struggling to conceive is actually a fairly common issue. More importantly, fertility treatments and even diagnostic testing solutions exist to help experts accurately identify underlying causes that might be delaying conception like issues with sperm quality. With that knowledge, fertility specialists can make more effective treatment recommendations.

Sperm and fertility

One of the most common causes of male factor infertility is overall issues with the sperm. From low sperm count to poor motility and overall quality, when a man has these problems, natural conception becomes increasingly harder. Testing helps experts identify the specific factors at play, and provide recommendations. For example, some men may need to begin supplementing testosterone, whereas other individuals may require specialized fertility treatments to provide critical workaround solutions that can foster pregnancy. In some situations, a specialized test known as sperm DNA fragmentation testing might be recommended.

Sperm DNA fragmentation testing

Sperm DNA fragmentation tests are designed to look at the structural integrity of sperm cells. Although motility and sperm count tend to be the top-of-mind factors people picture with male infertility, actual overall quality is also vitally important. If a man has too many sperm cells with fragmented or damaged DNA, the likelihood of achieving a successful pregnancy and healthy birth without the use of donor sperm is low. People should know that this test isn’t usually recommended unless a documented history of failed pregnancies exists.

How testing is performed

The DNA fragmentation test is a low-stress option for men. Sometimes also referred to as a sperm DNA integrity test, the non-invasive screening only requires a semen sample. Once received, technicians will apply a stain to the sperm cells, and review the specimen in a lab to determine the results. The fragmentation tests results are formatted by percentages with the goal being a low percentage result. Tests that yield 15% or less DNA fragmentation would translate to a man having fairly healthy sperm with minimal damage present. Conversely, results higher than 15% usually indicate that infertility may be a factor or that if conception does occur, the embryo has a higher chance of resulting in a miscarriage.

What comes next

Individuals with normal test results may decide to continue trying with natural conception. Some people might consider trying fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) but choose not to use donor sperm. However, having high percentage test results doesn’t immediately mean a man can’t father a child. In some situations, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or drinking, or even adding recommended supplements can help reverse damage and improve future test scores. Sometimes, IVF may still be recommended but modified with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to improve chances of success.