Sperm global DNA methylation level: association with semen parameters and genome integrity.

Sperm DNA methylation abnormalities have been detected in oligozoospermic men. However, the association between sperm DNA methylation defects, sperm parameters and sperm DNA, and chromatin integrity remains poorly understood. This study was designed to clarify this issue.

High body mass index has a deleterious effect on semen parameters except morphology: results from a large cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on semen characteristics.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Single private andrology laboratory.

Sperm deoxyribonucleic acid damage in normozoospermic men is related to age and sperm progressive motility.

Objective: To evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation in normozoospermic male partners of couples undergoing infertility evaluation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Clinical andrology laboratory.

Management of infertility in women over 40.

Women's fertility potential is declining with age because of multiples intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as life style, oxidative stress and/or endocrine disruptors and is affecting the ability of these women to conceive naturally. This declining fertility potential and the late age of motherhood is increasing significantly the number of patients consulting infertility specialists. Different strategies of investigation and management are proposed to patients over 40 in order to overcome their infertility and improve the live birth rate in these patients.

Which isolated sperm abnormality is most related to sperm DNA damage in men presenting for infertility evaluation.

Background: Sperm DNA damage is common in infertile men and is associated with poor semen parameters but the impact of an isolated sperm abnormality on sperm DNA damage has not been studied.

Objective: To evaluate sperm DNA damage in a large cohort of infertile men with isolated sperm defects.

Design, Setting And Participants: Retrospective study of 1084 consecutive, non-azoospermic infertile men with an isolated sperm defect: isolated oligozoospermia (iOligo), isolated asthenozoospermia (iAstheno) or isolated teratozoospermia (iTerato).

Emerging molecular methods for male infertility investigation.

Male factors account for approximately 50% of reproductive pathology. Different disorders, including urogenital and endocrine system development abnormalities, lead to testicular and gametogenesis defects. Parallely, studies have reported that somatic and germ cell genome decay are a major cause of male infertility.

Sperm vacuoles are linked to capacitation and acrosomal status.

Study Question: Is the presence of nuclear vacuoles really a negative parameter?

Summary Answer: As sperm vacuoles are associated with acrosomal and capacitation status, they appear to be a reflection of normal sperm physiology.

What Is Known Already: The selection of sperm under a high magnification has been proposed as a strategy to increase the success rates of ICSI, through a better selection of sperm for injection. The presence of vacuoles on the sperm head is said to be a negative parameter.

Zinc concentrations in serum and follicular fluid during ovarian stimulation and expression of Zn2+ transporters in human oocytes and cumulus cells.

Serum and follicular fluid zinc concentrations were investigated in patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatment. No correlation was found between zinc and oestradiol concentrations in serum. At the time of oocyte retrieval, zinc concentrations in follicular fluid were significantly lower than serum concentrations (P<0.