Sperm Quality and Infertility
Here’s another study reviewing subpar sperm from men requiring fertility intervention, such as IUI.
Though this study is small (only 16 subpar men), it clearly shows subpar sperm have shortened telomeres. Shortened telomeres indicate DNA damage. DNA damage will lead to poor fertilization rates and the potential for poor embryo quality.
So, I’m back on the soapbox, ladies – egg quality is not THE only issue in creating a good quality embryo. It’s time for Western medicine to stop solely focusing on egg quality and investigate the DNA quality of the sperm.
The best point on sperm quality – men respond to Chinese medicine and acupuncture – sperm can improve within a short time period of time.
Are you experiencing poor embryo quality? Poor genetic testing outcomes? Use acupuncture and Chinese medicine to shift your embryo outcomes.
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
January 2018, Volume 35, Issue 1, pp 143–148 | Cite as
Sub-fertile sperm cells exemplify telomere dysfunction
Authors Tal Biron-Shental, Amir Wiser, Anat Hershko-Klement, Ofer Markovitch, Aliza Amiel,, Arie Berkovitch
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Meir Medical Center Kfar SabaIsrael
• Sackler Faculty of MedicineTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
• Meir Medical Center Genetics Institute Kfar SabaIsrael
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate telomere homeostasis in sub-fertile compared to fertile human sperm.
Methods
This observational, comparative study included 16 sub-fertile men who required intracytoplasmic sperm injection and 10 fertile men. At least 100 sperm cells from each participant were assessed. Main outcome measures were telomere length and telomere aggregates. Telomerase RNA component (TERC) copy number and telomere capture were assessed using fluorescence in situ hybridization technique and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) using immunohistochemistry.
Results
Clinical backgrounds were similar. The percentage of sperm cells with shorter telomeres was higher among the sub-fertile compared to the fertile participants (3.3 ± 3.1 vs. 0.6 ± 1.2%, respectively; P < 0.005). The percentage of cells with telomere aggregates was significantly higher in the sub-fertile group (15.12 ± 3.73 vs. 4.73 ± 3.73%; P < 0.005). TERC gene copy number was similar between groups. The percentage of cells that were positive for hTERT was lower in the sub-fertile group (3.81 ± 1.27 vs. 8.42 ± 1.80%; P < 0.005). Telomere capture rates were higher among the sub-fertile sperm cells (P < 0.005).
Conclusions
Sub-fertile sperm cells have short telomeres that are elongated by the alternative pathway of telomere capture. Dysfunctional telomeres may affect sperm fertilizability.