Study of factors associated with male infertility, its relationship with DNA fragmentation and alterations in the spermogram of patients who attended in a fertility clinic

Abstract

Infertility is a global health problem and is defined as the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Objective: To identify and relate factors associated to male infertility with sperm DNA integrity and seminal parameters of patients who were treated at a fertility clinic. Methodology: This is a descriptive non- experimental study, and it comprised 269 patients treated at Biogepa Human Reproduction Center in the city of Cuenca from January 2017 to December 2021. Different parameters seminals y sperm DNA integrity was analyzed using the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) assay. Results: Occupations like storekeeper and office worker were the most relevant in the participants in the study. In turn, it was revealed that the subjects who reported not consuming any type of addictive or recreational substance were related to 15 types of alterations in the spermiogram: one with mono alteration, seven with di alterations, four with tri alterations, one with tetra alterations and two with penta alterations. In addition, it was determined that the patients, showed 3 mono alterations (Azoo, Hypo, and Terato), one di alteration (Astheno-Terato), one tri alteration (Hypo-Astheno-Terato), and a penta alteration (Hypo-Oligo-Astheno- Necro-Terato). Finally, the various levels of sperm DNA fragmentation were related to the different age groups and the diagnoses. It was observed that the di alteration (Astheno-Terato) is present in all age groups, reporting good and intermediate levels of DNA fragmentation. Conclusion: Seminal quality could be associated to varied factors of the individual environment, which could have an impact on male infertility. In turn, sperm DNA fragmentation is closely related to the alterations observed in the spermiogram.