Anyone's DP / DH had a sperm DNA fragmentation test?

[gardenpixie]

Hello,

I have heard that DNA fragmentation can be a factor in infertility even if standard semen analysis tests (count, motility and morphology) seem fine.

DH and I have been TTC for 3yrs now and we have our first IVF consultation in ten days ... We are trying to work out whether to push for a DNA fragmentation test to see if we need ICSI or not and I wondered if any MNers had experience of this or if it is a load of old rubbish and I need to step away from Dr Google's consulting rooms ...

Any thoughts and experiences would be very much appreciated,

thank you

my dp had a sperm frag test, but it wasn't for infertility.

we had no probs getting pg, but i miscarried 4 times. the consultant we saw on the nhs blamed dp's poor sperm morphology, so we had the dna frag done. i can't remember the exact figure but it was classed as 'normal'

iirc it's considered normal if less than 30% of the sperm is unaffected by dna damage.

i would definately push for it if poss, even if it's just to rule it out a possible cause.

how many sperm analysis tests has your dh had?

Thanks mumatron - DH has had 3 tests so far: they all show that the count and motility are fine and that the morphology is a bit iffy but classed as normal.

I think we will push for the DNA fragmentation test - DH is a gardener and works with pesticides which I know can increase the risk of fragmentation problems so I think we'd rather know whether we should go straight for ICSI or try 'normal' IVF first.

We only get NHS funding for one fresh cycle of IVF (and two frozen embryo transfers if we get enough viable embryos) so we want to make sure we do what we can to make the most of it!

So sorry to hear about your MCs; thanks for sharing your experience though, I am a bit flumuxed by the whole thing so it's heartening to know I'm not going mad to think about pushing for the test (the clinic we're seeing usually just does the basics rather than doing DNA fragmentation as standard).

well, my advice would always be to push for any and every available test. Especially if you only have one chance at ivf.

We were not eligable for nhs funding (i already have 2 dc) so we were looking at self funding 1 go at ivf. We would of went straight for icsi after looking at it all.

have you thought about going to an open evening at a private ivf clinic? even if you dont plan on doing any self funded cycles it would maybe be helpful to speak to a consultant who isn't blinkered by nhs funding guidelines.

all the best to you!

forgot to say, we never needed the ivf as i got pg and now have a very cute 13 week old dd screeching at me for a feed!

don't give up. I was told that with a low sperm count and a morphology of only 1% i would probably never have another baby!

mumatron congrats on your little one! That's great news

Thanks for the advice about the private clinic; I think that's a great idea. I suppose there is no commitment to following up with treatment anyway so it would be worth a look.

I am going to ask our NHS consultant if we can pay on top for ICSI should we not be covered for it by the NHS, but I don't know how open they are to that kind of thing.

Such good news about you falling pg naturally! DH and I haven't given up on that just yet and I think we have one, maybe two, cycles before we start the IVF drugs so you never know

thanks gardenpixie

I hope you get good news before you start the ivf.

Good luck!