Objectives: To study the relationship of various sperm characteristics with repeated unexplained early pregnancy loss.
Basic procedure: Semen samples from husbands of 74 couples with the history of repeated early pregnancy loss were analyzed as per WHO criteria, and DNA integrity was studied in each case by Acridine Orange staining test. Semen samples from 65 husbands of proven fertility were also studied for comparison.
Main findings: No statistically significant differences were noted in the age of the husbands, sperm concentration, total count per ejaculate, and rapid progressive motility of sperms between the two groups. On the other hand, significant differences were found in total motile sperms per ejaculate, percentage of motile sperm and, most importantly, in the DNA integrity value.
Conclusion: The sperm DNA-integrity damage is an important paternal factor associated with repeated embryonic or early fetal loss and should be included in the evaluation of these couples.