[Effects of sperm DNA fragmentation index on semen parameters and pregnancy outcomes in intrauterine insemination]

To analyze the correlation of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) level with semen parameters and pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination of the husband (AIH) in the cycle of intrauterine insemination (IUI).

We collected the clinical data on 777 cases of IUI, including female clinical indicators, male semen parameters, sperm DFI and pregnancy outcomes. According to the DFI level, we divided the patients into three groups: DFI < 15%, 15% ≤ DFI < 30% and DFI ≥ 30%.

The sperm DFI level was significantly elevated with the increased age of the males (P = 0.002) and closely related to the total number of motile sperm (P = 0.002) and total sperm motility (P = 0.000) before treatment, as well as to sperm concentration (P = 0.000), total sperm motility (P = 0.001) and total number of progressively motile sperm (P = 0.000) after density gradient centrifugation. The rate of clinical pregnancy was decreased in the DFI ≥ 30% group. There were no statistically significant differences between sperm DFI and the rates of clinical pregnancy and abortion.

Male age significantly affects the sperm DFI level. Sperm DFI is closely related to sperm motility and total number of progressively motile sperm, but not to the rates of clinical pregnancy and abortion in patients undergoing IUI. IUI can be used as an effective method of assisted reproduction for male infertility./.