Just like female fertility, male fertility also plays a vital role in the reproduction process. It is not possible for a woman to get pregnant if the male partner is infertile. It is very unfortunate to notice that society normally backlashes women if they fail to get pregnant or if they face miscarriages. To understand if the male partner is infertile, you have to undergo the DNA fragmentation test.
Indeed, not many people are aware of the sperm DNA fragmentation test UK. Therefore, we decided to present to you the necessary information about it in the form of this blog. In this blog, we have covered everything that you need to know about sperm DNA fragmentation. Normally, all men have some amount of damaged sperm in their DNA. However, when this amount rises, it leads to infertility. This is a clear indication of a person experiencing high difficulty in conceiving.
Even if you undergo IVF or IUF, if the sperm in the DNA is a damaged one, the result is the same. Instead of backlashing women for infertility or because of not being able to conceive, it is necessary to undergo this sperm DNA fragmentation test as soon as possible. Now that you have shown a little bit of an interest in sperm DNA fragmentation tests near me, let’s dig deep into the blog to know more about it.
What is sperm DNA fragmentation?
As you can understand from the name, when the strands of the DNA get separated, it is known as DNA fragmentation. This separation of DNA strands can occur both normally or by personnel in the laboratory. When these DNA strands get separated inside a cell, it is known as spontaneous DNA fragmentation. Both the comet assay and Tunel assay can check and measure it. If a man has a problem with the mobility of his sperm, he has a high tendency of developing sperm DNA fragmentation.
People think that undergoing IVF treatment can help her conceive easily. Well, it surely can, provided there is no defect in the sperm cells. In order to have a successful fertilization process, the integrity of the genetics in sperm is highly important. Genetics also plays a vital role in the formation and development of an embryo inside a female body. However, the traditional semen analysis is not similar to that of sperm DNA fragmentation. Rather, the latter is a more advanced and accurate form of measuring sperm.
Causes of sperm DNA fragmentation
When you are suffering from a disease, the doctor first finds out the root cause. Similarly, the primary cause of sperm DNA fragmentation is oxidative stress. How does this oxidative stress occur? Well, when there are unpaired electrons and the free radicals do not neutralize it creates a build-up of the sperm that result in developing oxidative stress. Other reasons that can lead to oxidative stress include the following:
- Infection
- Smoking
- Use of drugs
- Illness
- Exposure to pollutants
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Elevated testicular temperature
People with poor diets and obesity can also have sperm DNA fragmentation. When your body lacks an adequate amount of protein, it leads to an inability to repair the broken sperm cells. This condition refers to sperm DNA fragmentation.
When you have sperm DNA fragments, it results in the following three common issues:
- It enhances the chance of miscarriage
- It can lead to not being able to conceive at the right time
- It can adversely affect the development of blastocyst
There is no rule that says sperm DNA fragmentation cannot occur in men with normal sperm counts. However, those with low sperm counts or sub-fertile sperms have a high tendency to experience sperm DNA fragmentation.
How to test sperm DNA fragmentation?
Indeed, there are various treatments for sperm DNA fragmentation. But these are the most common ways by which a medical professional tests sperm DNA fragmentation:
- Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA)
- Deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay (TUNEL)
- Single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (COMET)
- Sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD)
For a sperm DNA fragmentation test, the medical professional will ask you to submit a semen sample. Make sure to obtain these samples via ejaculation. Semen obtained through any other means will not produce accurate results. Once the doctor studies the report of the test, he can devise a proper treatment plan to cure sperm DNA fragmentation.
Conclusion
Now that you have got a detailed idea about the sperm DNA fragmentation test, it is your time to check if you are suffering from the same. Make sure to choose a reputed laboratory or clinic that issues the best results. The accuracy of the results matter as that will determine the kind of treatment you need to undergo.
