Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Human Split Ejaculates

Background: Standard semen evaluation according to WHO thresholds (2010) is still insufficient to disclose individuals with a diagnosis of idiopathic infertility. Sperm DNA fragmentation is considered a possible valuable marker, and flow-cytometry-based Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) analysis has been used. However, the method is cumbersome and time-consuming; hardly applicable in a clinical setting where split ejaculates are used for diagnostics and intervention. The present study explores an alternative method using conventional bright-field microscopy (HalospermG2, Halothech, Madrid, Spain) with Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) as end values. Analyses were done on split ejaculates (F1, sperm-rich fraction, mainly prostate-dominated versus F2, sperm-poor fraction, mainly seminal vesicle-dominated) of documented fertile donors and partners in a couple seeking for ART-intervention with a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic infertility (patients).