To investigate the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation in male partners of women with recurrent pregnancy loss and fertile control women.
Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Setting
Not applicable. PATIENT(S): A total of 579 male partners of women with recurrent pregnancy loss and 434 male partners fertile control women. INTERVENTION(S): Prospective studies were identified through a Pubmed search. Recurrent pregnancy loss was defined as two or more previous pregnancy losses. Fertile control women had a history of a live birth or ongoing pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The primary outcome was the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation. The summary measures were reported as mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULT(S): Fifteen prospective studies were included in a qualitative review. Pooled data from 13 studies with sufficient data for meta-analysis suggest that male partners of women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss have a significantly higher rate of sperm DNA fragmentation compared to the partners of fertile control women: mean difference 11.91, 95% CI 4.97-18.86. CONCLUSION(S): These findings support an association between sperm DNA fragmentation and recurrent pregnancy loss. However, given the significant heterogeneity between studies and lack of prospective pregnancy outcome data, further large prospective studies are needed.
sperm DNA fragmentation recurrent pregnancy loss meta-analysis, male factor recurrent miscarriage sperm DNA damage, sperm chromatin integrity recurrent pregnancy loss systematic review, DNA fragmentation index male partners recurrent miscarriage, McQueen sperm DNA fragmentation pregnancy loss, male infertility factor recurrent abortion sperm quality, sperm DNA damage miscarriage prospective studies meta-analysis, paternal contribution recurrent pregnancy loss DNA integrity, sperm chromatin structure assay recurrent miscarriage, andrology male factor unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss
PMID 31056315 31056315 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.03.003 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.03.003
Cite this article
McQueen, D. B., Zhang, J., & Robins, J. C. (2019). Sperm DNA fragmentation and recurrent pregnancy loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertility and sterility, 112(1), 54-60.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.03.003
McQueen DB, Zhang J, Robins JC. Sperm DNA fragmentation and recurrent pregnancy loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2019;112(1):54-60.e3. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.03.003
McQueen, D. B., et al. "Sperm DNA fragmentation and recurrent pregnancy loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Fertility and sterility, vol. 112, no. 1, 2019, pp. 54-60.e3.
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