Male factor evaluation in assisted reproduction: new technologies

Abstract

The seminal parameters analyzed in semen (concentration, motility, morphology) do not clearly discriminate patients with fertility problems. For this reason it is necessary to search for new markers that will
allow us to correlate the cause of male factor infertility with the likelihood of achieving a pregnancy reaching term. In recent years much research has focused on the molecular area, assessing DNA fragmentation and sperm chromosome aneuploidy, which has led to the term ‘genomic male factor infertility’. At present methodologies allow selection of sperm with less pathology for use in assisted reproduction procedures (ART) including morphological selection of spermatozoa by high magnification (IMSI), columns of annexin-V, and sperm selection by hyaluronic acid binding. This review will detail the usefulness of testing both DNA fragmentation and FISH in sperm as sperm selection techniques in assisted reproduction.