Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

U-Shaped Horizontal Swimming Technique for Preparing High-Quality Sperm with Low DNA Fragmentation Index
Published on: March 28, 2025
Association of Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outcomes in an Age-adjusted Cohort: A
Naval Shah1, Divreena Talwar2, Deepak Modi3
1Department of Embryology, Indira IVF Hospital Limited, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Background:
Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is increasingly recognised as a critical parameter in male infertility assessment. However, its prognostic utility in assisted reproduction, particularly in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles, remains uncertain.
Aim:
This study aims to evaluate the association between sperm DFI and clinical outcomes following ICSI and to examine whether this relationship is independent of maternal age.
Settings And Design:
A multicentre retrospective cohort study across private fertility centres in India.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 688 couples undergoing ICSI were analysed. Subjects were categorised based on sperm DFI levels (≤15%, 15%-30% and >30%). Semen characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were compared across all DFI groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to adjust for female age.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results:
Higher DFI was associated with poorer semen parameters, including lower motility, concentration and morphology. There was no statistically significant association between DFI levels and biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy or live birth rates in couples who conceived after ICSI. These findings remained consistent after adjusting for maternal and paternal age.
Conclusions:
Sperm DFI was related to semen quality but did not independently predict ICSI outcomes. While it may provide adjunctive information in selected cases, it is not a prognostic marker of ICSI success.
More Related Videos
06:11Author Spotlight: Exploring the Long-Term Health Impacts of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection on Offspring
Published on: May 17, 2024
09:22Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development
Published on: February 9, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Sperm Transport
The maturation phase occurs in the epididymis, where sperm...
Sperm Structure and Semen Composition
The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Habitat Fragmentation
Adjusting a Traverse