Poor sperm quality and advancing age are associated with increased sperm DNA damage in infertile men

Summary With increasing evidence for faulty paternal contribution to reproduction, there has been a steady increase in studies highlighting an association between sperm DNA damage, failed/delayed fertilisation and aberrant embryo development. Owing to prevailing ambiguity, the aims of the study were to analyse the genetic integrity of the male gamete and then to understand its association with age, standard semen parameters, lifestyle and occupational factors. The study included 504 subjects, attending university infertility clinic for fertility evaluation and treatment. Semen characteristics were analysed by standard criteria; terminal deoxynucelotidyl transferase–mediated nick end‐labelling assay was employed for DNA damage assessment. The average incidence of sperm DNA damage in patients with normozoospermic semen parameters was