Forum Index
»
Infertility Support and Discussion
sperm DNA fragmentation
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Has anyone's DH been tested for this? If so, at which clinic and if insurance doesn't cover it what is the cost?
tks |
Anonymous
| So a regular SA doesn't cover this? My DH is diabetic and I've read this can be an issue with diabetics. May I ask why you are seeking this testing? |
Anonymous
|
yes - my DH had it done after we had multiple IVF failures - through Millenova lab:
http://www.millenova.com/tests/sdi.cfm they sent the big tank that you send back with a sample can't remember what we paid, but looks like it's $420 now - including the shipping DH's result was borderline bad so he started on antioxidants, etc. (Proceptin at first and then we did our own supplements). Unfortunately I don't think there's much you can do about it other than the supplements. |
Anonymous
| Did you do this testing on your own or through your physician? |
Anonymous
| OP here. We are looking into it because DH is on a SSRI antidepressant and I found a preliminary study linking the use of another SSRI (Paxil) with much higher levels of sperm fragmentation. Some have extrapolated that all SSRIs would cause this problem. If we tested and DH's sperm are fragmented, we could think about him going off the antidepressant while we do treatment. But $420 is a bit ouch - will insurance cover? |
Anonymous
| Oh, and to answer, 14:49, no traditional semen analysis does not look at this issue. In fact, it appears that for many men the results of their semen analysis is fine but they have a large rate of DNA fragmentation. From what I can tell, with IVF and ICSI fertilization would not be an issue, but the fragmentation would or could result in miscarriage. |
Anonymous
|
15:11 here - we did a phone consult with Dr. Coulam - she is based in Chicago & associated with the lab. My local RE wouldn't do it.
Our insurance didn't cover it (I doubt that any insurance would cover the shipping part - not sure about the rest). We didn't have fertilization issues, but we had crappy embryos & multiple IVF/FET failures. FWIW on our last IVF cycle DH had been taking proceptin for a few months and it was our first BFP - other variables changed too so that probably wasn't the only factor, but it certainly didn't hurt! |
Anonymous
|
my husband got tested for this through scsa. you may want to try them, too.
|
Anonymous
|
My husband got tested for DNA fragmentation through SCSA Diagnostics. We paid completely OOP for it as our insurance would not cover it. Cost us $300 including shipping. My husband's sperm came back as severely fragmented, which didn't surprise me because his regular sperm analysis was also not good...poor count, morphology and motility was very slow. We tried 2 rounds of IVF/ICSI using my husband's sperm. Had lots of great looking embryos but nothing stuck. (I'm 32 with no known issues other than MF) We then decided to move on to donor sperm (my husband's family has a history of health issues, including issues with sperm that we did not want to pass onto our children, especially our son if we had a boy). I did one round of IVF/ICSI with donor sperm and I am now pregnant.
I don't know if I totally buy into the whole DNA fragmentation thing but it definitely could have been an issue for us. I do know that more studies need to be done because I'm sure there are plenty of fragmented sperm out there getting women pregnant! DNA fragmentation was just the push we needed to move onto donor sperm, based on my husband's medical history. |
Anonymous
| Am really curious to learn more about this. Can anyone post some helpful links? |
Anonymous