ABSTRACT
Semen analysis is used routinely to evaluate infertile men. Attempts to introduce quality control within and between laboratories have highlighted the subjectivity and variability of traditional semen parameters. A significant overlap in sperm concentration, motility, and morphology between fertile and infertile men has been demonstrated (1). In addition, standard measurements may not reveal subtle sperm defects such as DNA damage and these defects can affect fertility. New markers are needed to better discriminate infertile men from fertile ones, predict pregnancy outcomes in the female partner, and calculate the risk of adverse reproductive events. In this context, sperm chromatin abnormalities have been studied extensively in past decades as a cause of male infertility (2). Focus on the genomic integrity of the male gamete has been intensified due to growing concerns about transmission of damaged DNA through assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs), especially intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). It is a particular concern if the amount of sperm DNA damage exceeds the repair capacity of oocytes. There are concerns related to potential chromosomal abnormalities, congenital malformations, and developmental abnormalities in ICSI-born progeny (3–6).
