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Human Fertility
an international, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to furthering research and promoting good practice
Volume 25, 2022 - Issue 1
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Original Articles

Seminal oxidation–reduction potential and sperm DNA fragmentation index increase among infertile men with varicocele

, , , , , , , , , , , , & show all
Pages 142-146 | Received 15 Aug 2019, Accepted 26 Nov 2019, Published online: 20 Jan 2020
 

Abstract

Varicocele is a common cause of male infertility. It is reported that low sperm concentration, motility and morphology are indicative of increased sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in men with varicocele. Although research has been conducted into the relationship between varicocele and DFI, little is known about seminal oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) in varicocele patients. We assessed the relationship between varicocele with seminal ORP and sperm DFI in both fertile and infertile men. This prospective case–control study compared the findings from infertile men with varicocele to those of men with normal spermatogenesis without varicocele. Semen samples were collected and assessed using the WHO (2010) guidelines. ORP was measured (mV) and normalized to sperm concentration (mV/106 sperm/mL). DFI was measured using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) method. For group comparisons, only samples with a concentration >1 × 106 sperm/mL were included. Infertile men with varicocele had significantly lower mean sperm concentration, motility and total sperm count. Conversely, infertile men with varicocele had a significantly higher mean serum FSH level, and higher ORP and DFI values than fertile controls. ORP was higher in patients with varicocele and positively correlated with DFI (p < 0.01). ORP and DFI showed significant negative correlations with semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility and total sperm count) in infertile men with a varicocele.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partly supported by AMED under Grant Number 19gk0110027h0003.

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