1
|
Agarwal A, Farkouh A, Saleh R, Hamoda TAAAM, Salvio G, Boitrelle F, Harraz AM, Ghayda RA, Kavoussi P, Gül M, Toprak T, Russo GI, Durairajanayagam D, Rambhatla A, Birowo P, Cannarella R, Phuoc NHV, Zini A, Arafa M, Wyns C, Tremellen K, Sarıkaya S, Lewis S, Evenson DP, Ko E, Calogero AE, Bahar F, Martínez M, Ambar RF, Colpi GM, Bakircioglu ME, Henkel R, Kandil H, Serefoglu EC, Alfakhri A, Tsujimura A, Kheradmand A, Marino A, Adamyan A, Zilaitiene B, Ozer C, Pescatori E, Vogiatzi P, Busetto GM, Balercia G, Elbardisi H, Akhavizadegan H, Sajadi H, Taniguchi H, Park HJ, Maldonado Rosas I, Al-Marhoon M, Sadighi Gilani MA, Alhathal N, Quang N, Pinggera GM, Kothari P, Micic S, Homa S, Long TQT, Zohdy W, Atmoko W, Ibrahim W, Sabbaghian M, Abumelha SM, Chung E, Ugur MR, Ozkent MS, Selim O, Darbandi M, Fukuhara S, Jamali M, de la Rosette J, Kuroda S, Smith RP, Baser A, Kalkanli A, Tadros NN, Aydos K, Mierzwa TC, Khalafalla K, Malhotra V, Moussa M, Finocchi F, Rachman RI, Giulioni C, Avidor-Reiss T, Kahraman O, Çeker G, Zenoaga-Barbăroșie C, Barrett TL, Yilmaz M, Kadioglu A, Jindal S, Omran H, Bocu K, Karthikeyan VS, Franco G, Solorzano JF, Vishwakarma RB, Arianto E, Garrido N, Jain D, Gherabi N, Sokolakis I, Palani A, Calik G, Kulaksiz D, Simanaviciene V, Simopoulou M, Güngör ND, Blecher G, Falcone M, Jezek D, Preto M, Amar E, Le TV, Ahn ST, Rezano A, Singh K, Rocco L, Savira M, Rajmil O, Darbandi S, Sogutdelen E, Boeri L, Hernández G, Hakim L, Morimoto Y, Japari A, Sofikitis N, Altay B, Metin Mahmutoglu A, Al Hashimi M, Ziouziou I, Anagnostopoulou C, Lin H, Shah R. Technical Aspects and Clinical Limitations of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in Male Infertility: A Global Survey, Current Guidelines, and Expert Recommendations. World J Mens Health 2024; 42:202-215. [PMID: 37635341 PMCID: PMC10782128 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.230076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is a functional sperm abnormality that can impact reproductive potential, for which four assays have been described in the recently published sixth edition of the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. The purpose of this study was to examine the global practices related to the use of SDF assays and investigate the barriers and limitations that clinicians face in incorporating these tests into their practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinicians managing male infertility were invited to complete an online survey on practices related to SDF diagnostic and treatment approaches. Their responses related to the technical aspects of SDF testing, current professional society guidelines, and the literature were used to generate expert recommendations via the Delphi method. Finally, challenges related to SDF that the clinicians encounter in their daily practice were captured. RESULTS The survey was completed by 436 reproductive clinicians. Overall, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) is the most commonly used assay chosen by 28.6%, followed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (24.1%), and the sperm chromatin dispersion (19.1%). The choice of the assay was largely influenced by availability (70% of respondents). A threshold of 30% was the most selected cut-off value for elevated SDF by 33.7% of clinicians. Of respondents, 53.6% recommend SDF testing after 3 to 5 days of abstinence. Although 75.3% believe SDF testing can provide an explanation for many unknown causes of infertility, the main limiting factors selected by respondents are a lack of professional society guideline recommendations (62.7%) and an absence of globally accepted references for SDF interpretation (50.3%). CONCLUSIONS This study represents the largest global survey on the technical aspects of SDF testing as well as the barriers encountered by clinicians. Unified global recommendations regarding clinician implementation and standard laboratory interpretation of SDF testing are crucial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Agarwal
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | | | - Ramadan Saleh
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Taha Abo-Almagd Abdel-Meguid Hamoda
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Gianmaria Salvio
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Florence Boitrelle
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Reproductive Biology, Fertility Preservation, Andrology, CECOS, Poissy Hospital, Poissy, France
- Department of Biology, Reproduction, Epigenetics, Environment, and Development, Paris Saclay University, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Ahmed M Harraz
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura, Egypt
- Department of Surgery, Urology Unit, Farwaniya Hospital, Farwaniya, Kuwait
- Department of Urology, Sabah Al Ahmad Urology Center, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Ramy Abou Ghayda
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Urology Institute, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Parviz Kavoussi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Reproductive Urology, Austin Fertility & Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Murat Gül
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Selçuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Tuncay Toprak
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Giorgio Ivan Russo
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Urology Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Damayanthi Durairajanayagam
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Amarnath Rambhatla
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Henry Ford Health System, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ponco Birowo
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Rossella Cannarella
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Department of Urology, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nguyen Ho Vinh Phuoc
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Armand Zini
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mohamed Arafa
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Andrology and STDs, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Christine Wyns
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Gynaecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Universitat Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kelton Tremellen
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
| | - Selçuk Sarıkaya
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Galhane Research and Training Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sheena Lewis
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Examen Lab Ltd., Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Donald P Evenson
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- SCSA Diagnostics, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Edmund Ko
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Aldo E Calogero
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Surgery, Urology Unit, Farwaniya Hospital, Farwaniya, Kuwait
| | - Fahmi Bahar
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Andrology Section, Siloam Sriwijaya Hospital, Palembang, Indonesia
| | - Marlon Martínez
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rafael F Ambar
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Centro Universitario em Saude do ABC, Santo Andre, Brazil
- Andrology Group at Ideia Fertil Institute of Human Reproduction, Santo Andre, Brazil
| | - Giovanni M Colpi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Andrology and IVF Center, Next Fertility Procrea, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Ralf Henkel
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Hussein Kandil
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Fakih IVF Fertility Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Ege Can Serefoglu
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Biruni University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Abdullah Alfakhri
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akira Tsujimura
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Alireza Kheradmand
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Angelo Marino
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Palermo, Italy
| | - Aram Adamyan
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- IVF Department, Astghik Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Birute Zilaitiene
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Institute of Endocrinology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Cevahir Ozer
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Edoardo Pescatori
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Andrology and Reproductive Medicine Unit, Gynepro Medical, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paraskevi Vogiatzi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Andromed Health & Reproduction, Fertility & Reproductive Health Diagnostic Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Gian Maria Busetto
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Balercia
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Haitham Elbardisi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hamed Akhavizadegan
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hesamoddin Sajadi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hisanori Taniguchi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hyun Jun Park
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Medical Research Institute of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Israel Maldonado Rosas
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- IVF Laboratory, CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mohamed Al-Marhoon
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Naif Alhathal
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nguyen Quang
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Center for Andrology and Sexual Medicine, Viet Duc University Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexual Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Germar-Michael Pinggera
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Priyank Kothari
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Topiwala National Medical College, B.Y.L Nair Ch Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Sava Micic
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology, Uromedica Polyclinic, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sheryl Homa
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Tran Quang Tien Long
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi Obstetric and Gynecology Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Wael Zohdy
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology and STDs, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Widi Atmoko
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Wael Ibrahim
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Marjan Sabbaghian
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saad Mohammed Abumelha
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eric Chung
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane QLD, Australia
| | - Muhammet Rasit Ugur
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- IVF Michigan, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
| | - Mehmet Serkan Ozkent
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Konya City Hospital, Konya, Turkey
| | - Osama Selim
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology and STDs, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahsa Darbandi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Fetal Health Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
- Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shinichiro Fukuhara
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mounir Jamali
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Jean de la Rosette
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Shinnosuke Kuroda
- Department of Urology, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ryan P Smith
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Aykut Baser
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Bandirma Onyedi Eylül University, Balikesir, Turkey
| | - Arif Kalkanli
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nicholas N Tadros
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Division of Urology, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Kaan Aydos
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tiago Cesar Mierzwa
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Androlab, Fertility Clinic, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Kareim Khalafalla
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Urology, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Urology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vineet Malhotra
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, SCM Clinic and Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohamad Moussa
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Urology, Al Zahraa Hospital, UMC, Lebanon
| | - Federica Finocchi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rinaldo Indra Rachman
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Carlo Giulioni
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Tomer Avidor-Reiss
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Oguzhan Kahraman
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Andrology and Reproductive Medicine Unit, Gynepro Medical, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gökhan Çeker
- Department of Urology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cătălina Zenoaga-Barbăroșie
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Trenton L Barrett
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Perth Urology Clinic, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Mehmet Yilmaz
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Asklepios Klinik Triberg, Urology, Triberg, Germany
| | - Ates Kadioglu
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Section of Andrology, Department of Urology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sunil Jindal
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Jindal Hospital, Meerut, India
| | - Huda Omran
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Molecular Genetics Department, Pulse Health Training Center, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Kadir Bocu
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Silopi State Hospital, Sirnak, Turkey
| | | | - Giorgio Franco
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jesús Fernando Solorzano
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- IVF Laboratory, CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ranjit B Vishwakarma
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Division of Andrology, Department of Urology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Eko Arianto
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Surgery, Prof. Dr. R.D. Kandou Central General Hospital, Manado, Indonesia
| | - Nicolas Garrido
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Divyanu Jain
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jaipur Golden Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Nazim Gherabi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Algiers 1, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Ioannis Sokolakis
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- 2nd Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ayad Palani
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Research Centre, University of Garmian, Kalar, Iraq
| | - Gokhan Calik
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Kulaksiz
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Vaida Simanaviciene
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Fertility Centre, Northway Medical Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mara Simopoulou
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nur Dokuzeylül Güngör
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF Unit, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gideon Blecher
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Marco Falcone
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Davor Jezek
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Reproductive Tissue Bank, Department for Transfusion Medicine and Transplantation Biology, University Hospital Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirko Preto
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Edouard Amar
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- American Hospital of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Tan V Le
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Sun Tae Ahn
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Andri Rezano
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Keerti Singh
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Preclinical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, St Michael, Barbados, Italy
| | - Lucia Rocco
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Missy Savira
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Osvaldo Rajmil
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Andrology, Fundacio Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Darbandi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Fetal Health Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
- Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
| | - Emrullah Sogutdelen
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey
| | - Luca Boeri
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Fondazione Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Guadalupe Hernández
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- IVF Department, CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Lukman Hakim
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga Teaching Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Yoshiharu Morimoto
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, HORAC Grand Front Osaka Clinic, Osaka, Japan
| | - Andrian Japari
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Fertility Clinic, Telogorejo Hospital, Central Java, Indonesia
| | - Nikolaos Sofikitis
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Baris Altay
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Asli Metin Mahmutoglu
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Departmant of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medical, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat, Turkey
| | - Manaf Al Hashimi
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Imad Ziouziou
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, University Hospital of Souss Massa, Massa, Morocco
| | - Christina Anagnostopoulou
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Unit of Reproductive Medicine, EmbryoART, Leto Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Haocheng Lin
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Rupin Shah
- Global Andrology Forum, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Division of Andrology, Department of Urology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Farkouh A, Agarwal A, Hamoda TAAAM, Kavoussi P, Saleh R, Zini A, Arafa M, Harraz AM, Gul M, Karthikeyan VS, Durairajanayagam D, Rambhatla A, Boitrelle F, Chung E, Birowo P, Toprak T, Ghayda RA, Cannarella R, Phuoc NHV, Dimitriadis F, Russo GI, Sokolakis I, Mostafa T, Makarounis K, Ziouziou I, Kuroda S, Bendayan M, Kaiyal RS, Japari A, Simopoulou M, Rocco L, Garrido N, Gherabi N, Bocu K, Kahraman O, Le TV, Wyns C, Tremellen K, Sarikaya S, Lewis S, Evenson DP, Ko E, Calogero AE, Bahar F, Martinez M, Crafa A, Nguyen Q, Ambar RF, Colpi G, Bakircioglu ME, Henkel R, Kandil H, Serefoglu EC, Alarbid A, Tsujimura A, Kheradmand A, Anagnostopoulou C, Marino A, Adamyan A, Zilaitiene B, Ozer C, Pescatori E, Vogiatzi P, Busetto GM, Balercia G, Elbardisi H, Akhavizadegan H, Sajadi H, Taniguchi H, Park HJ, Maldonado Rosas I, Al-Marhoon M, Sadighi Gilani MA, Alhathal N, Pinggera GM, Kothari P, Mogharabian N, Micic S, Homa S, Darbandi S, Long TQT, Zohdy W, Atmoko W, Sabbaghian M, Ibrahim W, Smith RP, Ho CCK, de la Rosette J, El-Sakka AI, Preto M, Zenoaga-Barbăroșie C, Abumelha SM, Baser A, Aydos K, Ramirez-Dominguez L, Kumar V, Ong TA, Mierzwa TC, Adriansjah R, Banihani SA, Bowa K, Fukuhara S, Rodriguez Peña M, Moussa M, Ari UÇ, Cho CL, Tadros NN, Ugur MR, Amar E, Falcone M, Santer FR, Kalkanli A, Karna KK, Khalafalla K, Vishwakarma RB, Finocchi F, Giulioni C, Ceyhan E, Çeker G, Yazbeck C, Rajmil O, Yilmaz M, Altay B, Barrett TL, Ngoo KS, Roychoudhury S, Salvio G, Lin H, Kadioglu A, Timpano M, Avidor-Reiss T, Hakim L, Sindhwani P, Franco G, Singh R, Giacone F, Ruzaev M, Kosgi R, Sofikitis N, Palani A, Calik G, Kulaksız D, Jezek D, Al Hashmi M, Drakopoulos P, Omran H, Leonardi S, Celik-Ozenci C, Güngör ND, Ramsay J, Amano T, Sogutdelen E, Duarsa GWK, Chiba K, Jindal S, Savira M, Boeri L, Borges E, Gupte D, Gokalp F, Hebrard GH, Minhas S, Shah R. Controversy and Consensus on the Management of Elevated Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Male Infertility: A Global Survey, Current Guidelines, and Expert Recommendations. World J Mens Health 2023; 41:809-847. [PMID: 37118965 PMCID: PMC10523126 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.230008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has been associated with male infertility and poor outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The purpose of this study was to investigate global practices related to the management of elevated SDF in infertile men, summarize the relevant professional society recommendations, and provide expert recommendations for managing this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS An online global survey on clinical practices related to SDF was disseminated to reproductive clinicians, according to the CHERRIES checklist criteria. Management protocols for various conditions associated with SDF were captured and compared to the relevant recommendations in professional society guidelines and the appropriate available evidence. Expert recommendations and consensus on the management of infertile men with elevated SDF were then formulated and adapted using the Delphi method. RESULTS A total of 436 experts from 55 different countries submitted responses. As an initial approach, 79.1% of reproductive experts recommend lifestyle modifications for infertile men with elevated SDF, and 76.9% prescribe empiric antioxidants. Regarding antioxidant duration, 39.3% recommend 4-6 months and 38.1% recommend 3 months. For men with unexplained or idiopathic infertility, and couples experiencing recurrent miscarriages associated with elevated SDF, most respondents refer to ART 6 months after failure of conservative and empiric medical management. Infertile men with clinical varicocele, normal conventional semen parameters, and elevated SDF are offered varicocele repair immediately after diagnosis by 31.4%, and after failure of antioxidants and conservative measures by 40.9%. Sperm selection techniques and testicular sperm extraction are also management options for couples undergoing ART. For most questions, heterogenous practices were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS This paper presents the results of a large global survey on the management of infertile men with elevated SDF and reveals a lack of consensus among clinicians. Furthermore, it demonstrates the scarcity of professional society guidelines in this regard and attempts to highlight the relevant evidence. Expert recommendations are proposed to help guide clinicians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ala’a Farkouh
- Global Andrology Forum, American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- Global Andrology Forum, American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Taha Abo-Almagd Abdel-Meguid Hamoda
- Department of Urology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Parviz Kavoussi
- Department of Reproductive Urology, Austin Fertility & Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ramadan Saleh
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
- Ajyal IVF Center, Ajyal Hospital, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Armand Zini
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mohamed Arafa
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Andrology, Sexology & STIs, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed M. Harraz
- Urology Department, Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansura, Egypt
- Department of Surgery, Urology Unit, Farwaniya Hospital, Farwaniya, Kuwait
- Department of Urology, Sabah Al Ahmad Urology Center, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Murat Gul
- Department of Urology, Selçuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | | | - Damayanthi Durairajanayagam
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Amarnath Rambhatla
- Department of Urology, Henry Ford Health System, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Florence Boitrelle
- Reproductive Biology, Fertility Preservation, Andrology, CECOS, Poissy Hospital, Poissy, France
- Department of Biology, Reproduction, Epigenetics, Environment and Development, Paris Saclay University, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Eric Chung
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ponco Birowo
- Department of Urology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Tuncay Toprak
- Department of Urology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ramy Abou Ghayda
- Urology Institute, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rossella Cannarella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Department of Urology, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nguyen Ho Vinh Phuoc
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Fotios Dimitriadis
- Department of Urology, Aristotle University, School of Medicine, Thessaloniki,
| | | | - Ioannis Sokolakis
- Department of Urology, Aristotle University, School of Medicine, Thessaloniki,
| | - Taymour Mostafa
- Department of Andrology, Sexology & STIs, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Imad Ziouziou
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Shinnosuke Kuroda
- Department of Urology, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Marion Bendayan
- Reproductive Biology, Fertility Preservation, Andrology, CECOS, Poissy Hospital, Poissy, France
| | - Raneen Sawaid Kaiyal
- Department of Urology, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Andrian Japari
- Fertility Clinic, Telogorejo Hospital, Semarang, Indonesia
| | - Mara Simopoulou
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Lucia Rocco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicolas Garrido
- IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Nazim Gherabi
- Department of Urology, University of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Kadir Bocu
- Department of Urology, Silopi State Hospital, Sirnak, Turkey
| | - Oguzhan Kahraman
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tan V. Le
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Christine Wyns
- Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kelton Tremellen
- Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
| | - Selcuk Sarikaya
- Department of Urology, Gülhane Research and Training Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | | | - Edmund Ko
- Department of Urology, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Aldo E. Calogero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Fahmi Bahar
- Andrology Section, Siloam Sriwijaya Hospital, Palembang, Indonesia
| | - Marlon Martinez
- Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Andrea Crafa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Quang Nguyen
- Center for Andrology and Sexual Medicine, Viet Duc University Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexual Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Rafael F. Ambar
- Department of Urology, Centro Universitario em Saude do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
- Andrology Group at Ideia Fertil Institute of Human Reproduction, Santo André, Brazil
| | - Giovanni Colpi
- Andrology and IVF Center, Next Fertility Procrea, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Ralf Henkel
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | | | - Ege Can Serefoglu
- Department of Urology, Biruni University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Abdullah Alarbid
- Department of Surgery, Urology Unit, Farwaniya Hospital, Farwaniya, Kuwait
| | - Akira Tsujimura
- Department of Urology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Alireza Kheradmand
- Urology Department, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | - Angelo Marino
- ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Palermo, Italy
| | - Aram Adamyan
- IVF Department, Astghik Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Birute Zilaitiene
- Institute of Endocrinology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Cevahir Ozer
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Edoardo Pescatori
- Andrology and Reproductive Medicine Unit, Gynepro Medical, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paraskevi Vogiatzi
- Andromed Health & Reproduction, Fertility & Reproductive Health Diagnostic Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Gian Maria Busetto
- Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Balercia
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Haitham Elbardisi
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Andrology, Sexology & STIs, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hamed Akhavizadegan
- Department of Urology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hesamoddin Sajadi
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Teheran, Iran
| | - Hisanori Taniguchi
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hyun Jun Park
- Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Medical Research Institute of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | | | - Mohamed Al-Marhoon
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Teheran, Iran
| | - Naif Alhathal
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Priyank Kothari
- Department of Urology, Topiwala National Medical College, B.Y.L Nair Ch Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Nasser Mogharabian
- Sexual Health and Fertility Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Sava Micic
- Department of Andrology, Uromedica Polyclinic, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sheryl Homa
- Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Sara Darbandi
- Fetal Health Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
- Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tran Quang Tien Long
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Wael Zohdy
- Department of Andrology, Sexology & STIs, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Widi Atmoko
- Department of Urology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Marjan Sabbaghian
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Teheran, Iran
| | - Wael Ibrahim
- Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Fertility Care Center in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ryan P. Smith
- Department of Urology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Virginia, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mirko Preto
- Department of Urology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Saad Mohammed Abumelha
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aykut Baser
- Department of Urology, Bandirma Onyedi Eylül University, Balikesir, Turkey
| | - Kaan Aydos
- Department of Urology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India
| | - Teng Aik Ong
- Department of Surgery, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Ricky Adriansjah
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine of Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia
| | - Saleem A. Banihani
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Kasonde Bowa
- Department of Urology, University of Lusaka, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Shinichiro Fukuhara
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Mohamad Moussa
- Department of Urology, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Urology, Al Zahraa Hospital, UMC, Lebanon
| | - Umut Çağın Ari
- Department of Reproduction, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey
| | - Chak-Lam Cho
- S. H. Ho Urology Centre, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | - Marco Falcone
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Arif Kalkanli
- Department of Urology, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Keshab Kumar Karna
- Department of Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Kareim Khalafalla
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Urology Department, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
- Urology Department, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ranjit B. Vishwakarma
- Division of Andrology, Department of Urology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Federica Finocchi
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Carlo Giulioni
- Department of Urology, Polytechnic University of Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
| | - Erman Ceyhan
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gökhan Çeker
- Department of Urology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Chadi Yazbeck
- Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Reprogynes Medical Institute, Paris, France
| | - Osvaldo Rajmil
- Department of Andrology, Fundacio Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mehmet Yilmaz
- Asklepios Clinic Triberg, Urology, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Baris Altay
- Department of Urology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Kay Seong Ngoo
- Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Gianmaria Salvio
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Haocheng Lin
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ates Kadioglu
- Section of Andrology, Department of Urology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Massimiliano Timpano
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Tomer Avidor-Reiss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
- Department of Urology and Transplantation, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Lukman Hakim
- Department of Urology, Universitas Airlangga, Rumah Sakit Universitas Airlangga Teaching Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Puneet Sindhwani
- Department of Urology, Universitas Airlangga, Rumah Sakit Universitas Airlangga Teaching Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Giorgio Franco
- Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rajender Singh
- Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Filippo Giacone
- Centro HERA, Unità di Medicina della Riproduzione, Sant’Agata Li Battiati, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Raghavender Kosgi
- Department of Urology, Andrology and Renal Transplant, AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, India
| | - Nikolaos Sofikitis
- Department of Urology, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ayad Palani
- Research Centre, University of Garmian, Kalar, Iraq
| | - Gokhan Calik
- Department of Urology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Kulaksız
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Davor Jezek
- Department for Transfusion Medicine and Transplantation Biology, Reproductive Tissue Bank, University Hospital Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Manaf Al Hashmi
- Department of Urology, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Panagiotis Drakopoulos
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- IVF Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Huda Omran
- Al Aljenan Medical Center, Pulse Health Training Center, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Sofia Leonardi
- Central Laboratory, Hospital Público Materno Infantil de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Ciler Celik-Ozenci
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nur Dokuzeylül Güngör
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF Unit, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Toshiyasu Amano
- Department of Urology, Nagano Red Cross Hospital, Nagano, Japan
| | | | | | - Koji Chiba
- Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Sunil Jindal
- Department of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Jindal Hospital, Meerut, India
| | - Missy Savira
- Department of Urology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Luca Boeri
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Fondazione Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Edson Borges
- Fertility Assisted Fertilization Center, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Deepak Gupte
- Department of Urology, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Center, Mumbai, India
| | - Fatih Gokalp
- Department of Urology, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Antakya, Turkey
| | | | - Suks Minhas
- Division of Surgery, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Rupin Shah
- Division of Andrology, Department of Urology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vomstein K, Egerup P, Kolte AM, Behrendt-Møller I, Boje AD, Bertelsen ML, Eiken CS, Reiersen MR, Toth B, la Cour Freiesleben N, Nielsen HS. Biopsy-free profiling of the uterine immune system in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained infertility. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 47:103207. [PMID: 37211442 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What are the differences in menstrual blood lymphocytes between controls, patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and patients with unexplained infertility (uINF)? DESIGN Prospective study including 46 healthy controls, 28 RPL and 11 uINF patients. A feasibility study compared lymphocyte compositions of endometrial biopsies and menstrual blood collected during the first 48 h of menstruation in seven controls. In all patients, peripheral and menstrual blood from the first and subsequent 24 h were analysed separately by flow cytometry, focusing on the main lymphocyte populations and natural killer (NK) cell subsets. RESULTS The first 24 h of menstrual blood resembles the uterine immune milieu as tested by endometrial biopsy. RPL patients showed significantly higher menstrual blood CD56+ NK cell numbers than controls (mean ± SD: 31.13 ± 7.52% versus 36.73 ± 5.4%, P = 0.002). Menstrual blood CD56dimCD16bright NK cells within the CD56+ NK cell population were decreased in RPL (16.34 ± 14.65%, P = 0.011) and uINF (15.7 ± 5.91%, P = 0.02) patients versus control (20.42 ± 11.53%). uINF patients had the lowest menstrual blood CD3+ T cell counts (38.81 ± 5.04%, control versus uINF: P = 0.01) and cytotoxicity receptors NKp46 and NKG2D on CD56brightCD16dim cells were higher in uINF (68.12 ± 11.84%, P = 0.006; 45.99 ± 13.83%, P = 0.01, respectively) and RPL (NKp46: 66.21 ± 15.36%, P = 0.009) patients versus controls. RPL and uINF patients had higher peripheral CD56+ NK cell counts versus controls (11.42 ± 4.05%, P = 0.021; 12.86 ± 4.29%, P = 0.009 versus 8.4 ± 3.5%). CONCLUSIONS Compared with controls, RPL and uINF patients had a different menstrual blood-NK-subtype profile, indicating an altered cytotoxicity. In future studies, this non-invasive analysis might enable identification and monitoring of patients receiving immunomodulatory medications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Vomstein
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fertility Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, DK-2650, Denmark.
| | - Pia Egerup
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Astrid Marie Kolte
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Behrendt-Møller
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fertility Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, DK-2650, Denmark
| | - Amalie Dyhrberg Boje
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie-Louise Bertelsen
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cecilie Sofie Eiken
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michelle Raupelyté Reiersen
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bettina Toth
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nina la Cour Freiesleben
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fertility Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, DK-2650, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henriette Svarre Nielsen
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fertility Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, DK-2650, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Agarwal A, Farkouh A, Saleh R, Abdel-Meguid Hamoda TAA, Harraz AM, Kavoussi P, Arafa M, Salvio G, Rambhatla A, Toprak T, Gül M, Phuoc NHV, Boitrelle F, Birowo P, Ghayda RA, Cannarella R, Kuroda S, Durairajanayagam D, Zini A, Wyns C, Sarikaya S, Tremellen K, Mostafa T, Sokolakis I, Evenson DP, Henkel R, Zohdy W, Chung E, Ziouziou I, Falcone M, Russo GI, Al-Hashimi M, Calogero AE, Ko E, Colpi G, Lewis S, Serefoglu EC, Bahar F, Martinez M, Nguyen Q, Ambar RF, Bakircioglu ME, Kandil H, Mogharabian N, Sabbaghian M, Taniguchi H, Tsujimura A, Sajadi H, Ibrahim W, Atmoko W, Vogiatzi P, Gunes S, Gilani MAS, Roychoudhury S, Güngör ND, Hakim L, Adriansjah R, Kothari P, Jindal S, Amar E, Park HJ, Long TQT, Homa S, Karthikeyan VS, Zilaitiene B, Rosas IM, Marino A, Pescatori E, Ozer C, Akhavizadegan H, Garrido N, Busetto GM, Adamyan A, Al-Marhoon M, Elbardisi H, Dolati P, Darbandi M, Darbandi S, Balercia G, Pinggera GM, Micic S, Ho CCK, Moussa M, Preto M, Zenoaga-Barbăroşie C, Smith RP, Kosgi R, de la Rosette J, El-Sakka AI, Abumelha SM, Mierzwa TC, Ong TA, Banihani SA, Bowa K, Fukuhara S, Boeri L, Danacıoğlu YO, Gokalp F, Selim OM, Cho CL, Tadros NN, Ugur MR, Ozkent MS, Chiu P, Kalkanli A, Khalafalla K, Vishwakarma RB, Finocchi F, Andreadakis S, Giulioni C, Çeker G, Ceyhan E, Malhotra V, Yilmaz M, Timpano M, Barrett TL, Kim SHK, Ahn ST, Giacone F, Palani A, Duarsa GWK, Kadioglu A, Gadda F, Zylbersztejn DS, Aydos K, Kulaksız D, Gupte D, Calik G, Karna KK, Drakopoulos P, Baser A, Kumar V, Molina JMC, Rajmil O, Ferreira RH, Leonardi S, Avoyan A, Sogutdelen E, Franco G, Ramsay J, Ramirez L, Shah R. Controversy and Consensus on Indications for Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in Male Infertility: A Global Survey, Current Guidelines, and Expert Recommendations. World J Mens Health 2023; 41:575-602. [PMID: 37118960 PMCID: PMC10307662 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.220282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing was recently added to the sixth edition of the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. Many conditions and risk factors have been associated with elevated SDF; therefore, it is important to identify the population of infertile men who might benefit from this test. The purpose of this study was to investigate global practices related to indications for SDF testing, compare the relevant professional society guideline recommendations, and provide expert recommendations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinicians managing male infertility were invited to take part in a global online survey on SDF clinical practices. This was conducted following the CHERRIES checklist criteria. The responses were compared to professional society guideline recommendations related to SDF and the appropriate available evidence. Expert recommendations on indications for SDF testing were then formulated, and the Delphi method was used to reach consensus. RESULTS The survey was completed by 436 experts from 55 countries. Almost 75% of respondents test for SDF in all or some men with unexplained or idiopathic infertility, 39% order it routinely in the work-up of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and 62.2% investigate SDF in smokers. While 47% of reproductive urologists test SDF to support the decision for varicocele repair surgery when conventional semen parameters are normal, significantly fewer general urologists (23%; p=0.008) do the same. Nearly 70% would assess SDF before assisted reproductive technologies (ART), either always or for certain conditions. Recurrent ART failure is a common indication for SDF testing. Very few society recommendations were found regarding SDF testing. CONCLUSIONS This article presents the largest global survey on the indications for SDF testing in infertile men, and demonstrates diverse practices. Furthermore, it highlights the paucity of professional society guideline recommendations. Expert recommendations are proposed to help guide clinicians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Agarwal
- Global Andrology Forum, American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ala’a Farkouh
- Global Andrology Forum, American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Moreland Hills, OH, USA
| | - Ramadan Saleh
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Taha Abo-Almagd Abdel-Meguid Hamoda
- Department of Urology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M. Harraz
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
- Department of Surgery, Urology Unit, Farwaniya Hospital, Farwaniya, Kuwait
- Department of Urology, Sabah Al Ahmad Urology Center, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Parviz Kavoussi
- Department of Reproductive Urology, Austin Fertility & Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mohamed Arafa
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Andrology, Sexology and STIs, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Gianmaria Salvio
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Amarnath Rambhatla
- Department of Urology, Henry Ford Health System, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tuncay Toprak
- Department of Urology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Murat Gül
- Department of Urology, Selçuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Nguyen Ho Vinh Phuoc
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Florence Boitrelle
- Reproductive Biology, Fertility Preservation, Andrology, CECOS, Poissy Hospital, Poissy, France
- Department of Biology, Reproduction, Epigenetics, Environment and Development, Paris Saclay University, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Ponco Birowo
- Department of Urology, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ramy Abou Ghayda
- Urology Institute, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rossella Cannarella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Damayanthi Durairajanayagam
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Armand Zini
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Christine Wyns
- Department of Gynaecology-Andrology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Selcuk Sarikaya
- Department of Urology, Gülhane Research and Training Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kelton Tremellen
- Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
| | - Taymour Mostafa
- Department of Andrology, Sexology and STIs, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ioannis Sokolakis
- Department of Urology, Martha-Maria Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
| | | | - Ralf Henkel
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
- LogixX Pharma, Theale, Berkshire, UK
| | - Wael Zohdy
- Department of Andrology, Sexology and STIs, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Eric Chung
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Imad Ziouziou
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Marco Falcone
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Manaf Al-Hashimi
- Department of Urology, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Urology, Clinical Urology, Khalifa University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Aldo E. Calogero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Edmund Ko
- Department of Urology, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Giovanni Colpi
- Andrology and IVF Center, Next Fertility Procrea, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Ege Can Serefoglu
- Department of Urology, Biruni University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fahmi Bahar
- Andrology Section, Siloam Sriwijaya Hospital, Palembang, Indonesia
| | - Marlon Martinez
- Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Quang Nguyen
- Center for Andrology and Sexual Medicine, Viet Duc University Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexual Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Rafael F. Ambar
- Department of Urology, Centro Universitario em Saude do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
- Andrology Group at Ideia Fertil Institute of Human Reproduction, Santo André, Brazil
| | | | | | - Nasser Mogharabian
- Sexual Health and Fertility Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Marjan Sabbaghian
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hisanori Taniguchi
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akira Tsujimura
- Department of Urology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hesamoddin Sajadi
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Wael Ibrahim
- Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Fertility Care Center in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Widi Atmoko
- Department of Urology, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Paraskevi Vogiatzi
- Andromed Health & Reproduction, Fertility & Reproductive Health Diagnostic Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Sezgin Gunes
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Nur Dokuzeylül Güngör
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF Unit, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Lukman Hakim
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Airlangga Teaching Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Ricky Adriansjah
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjajaran, Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia
| | - Priyank Kothari
- Department of Urology, Topiwala National Medical College, B.Y.L Nair Ch Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Sunil Jindal
- Department of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Jindal Hospital, Meerut, India
| | - Edouard Amar
- Department of Urology, American Hospital of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Hyun Jun Park
- Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Medical Research Institute of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Tran Quang Tien Long
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi Obstetric and Gynecology Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Sheryl Homa
- Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | | | - Birute Zilaitiene
- Institute of Endocrinology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | | | - Angelo Marino
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic, Palermo, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pescatori
- Andrology and Reproductive Medicine Unit, Gynepro Medical, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cevahir Ozer
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hamed Akhavizadegan
- Department of Urology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nicolas Garrido
- IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Gian Maria Busetto
- Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Aram Adamyan
- IVF Department, Astghik Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Mohamed Al-Marhoon
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Haitham Elbardisi
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Parisa Dolati
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mahsa Darbandi
- Fetal Health Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
- Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Darbandi
- Fetal Health Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
- Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Hope Generation Foundation, Tehran, Iran
| | - Giancarlo Balercia
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Sava Micic
- Department of Andrology, Uromedica Polyclinic, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Mohamad Moussa
- Department of Urology, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Urology, Al Zahraa Hospital, UMC, Lebanon
| | - Mirko Preto
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Ryan P. Smith
- Department of Urology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Virginia, USA
| | - Raghavender Kosgi
- Department of Urology, Andrology and Renal Transplant, AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, India
| | - Jean de la Rosette
- Department of Urology, Istanbul Medipol Mega University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Saad Mohammed Abumelha
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Teng Aik Ong
- Department of Surgery, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Saleem A. Banihani
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Kasonde Bowa
- Department of Urology, University of Lusaka, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Shinichiro Fukuhara
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Luca Boeri
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Fondazione Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Yavuz Onur Danacıoğlu
- Department of Urology, University of Health Science Istanbul Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fatih Gokalp
- Department of Urology, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Antakya, Turkey
| | - Osama Mohamed Selim
- Department of Andrology, Sexology and STIs, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Chak-Lam Cho
- S. H. Ho Urology Centre, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | - Peter Chiu
- S. H. Ho Urology Centre, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Arif Kalkanli
- Department of Urology, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kareim Khalafalla
- Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Urology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Federica Finocchi
- Department of Endocrinology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Giulioni
- Department of Urology, Polytechnic University of Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
| | - Gökhan Çeker
- Department of Urology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Institute of Health Sciences, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Erman Ceyhan
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Vineet Malhotra
- Department of Urology, SCM Clinic and Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Mehmet Yilmaz
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg-Medical Centre, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Massimiliano Timpano
- Department of Urology, Molinette Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Shannon Hee Kyung Kim
- IVF Australia, Sydney, Australia
- Macquarie School of Medicine, Macquaire University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sun-Tae Ahn
- Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Filippo Giacone
- Centro HERA, Unità di Medicina della Riproduzione, Sant'Agata Li Battiati, Catania, Italy
| | - Ayad Palani
- Research Centre, University of Garmian, Kalar, Iraq
| | | | - Ates Kadioglu
- Section of Andrology, Department of Urology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Franco Gadda
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Fondazione Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Kaan Aydos
- Department of Urology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Deniz Kulaksız
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Deepak Gupte
- Department of Urology, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Center, Mumbai, India
| | - Gokhan Calik
- Department of Urology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Keshab Kumar Karna
- Department of Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Panagiotis Drakopoulos
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- IVF Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aykut Baser
- Department of Urology, Bandirma Onyedi Eylül University, Balikesir, Turkey
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India
| | | | - Osvaldo Rajmil
- Department of Andrology, Fundacio Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sofia Leonardi
- Central Laboratory, Hospital Publico Materno Infantil de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Armen Avoyan
- Urology Department, Astghik Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Giorgio Franco
- Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Liliana Ramirez
- IVF Laboratory, CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rupin Shah
- Department of Urology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cimadomo D, de los Santos MJ, Griesinger G, Lainas G, Le Clef N, McLernon DJ, Montjean D, Toth B, Vermeulen N, Macklon N. ESHRE good practice recommendations on recurrent implantation failure. Hum Reprod Open 2023; 2023:hoad023. [PMID: 37332387 PMCID: PMC10270320 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoad023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION How should recurrent implantation failure (RIF) in patients undergoing ART be defined and managed? SUMMARY ANSWER This is the first ESHRE good practice recommendations paper providing a definition for RIF together with recommendations on how to investigate causes and contributing factors, and how to improve the chances of a pregnancy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY RIF is a challenge in the ART clinic, with a multitude of investigations and interventions offered and applied in clinical practice, often without biological rationale or with unequivocal evidence of benefit. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION This document was developed according to a predefined methodology for ESHRE good practice recommendations. Recommendations are supported by data from the literature, if available, and the results of a previously published survey on clinical practice in RIF and the expertise of the working group. A literature search was performed in PubMed and Cochrane focussing on 'recurrent reproductive failure', 'recurrent implantation failure', and 'repeated implantation failure'. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS The ESHRE Working Group on Recurrent Implantation Failure included eight members representing the ESHRE Special Interest Groups for Implantation and Early Pregnancy, Reproductive Endocrinology, and Embryology, with an independent chair and an expert in statistics. The recommendations for clinical practice were formulated based on the expert opinion of the working group, while taking into consideration the published data and results of the survey on uptake in clinical practice. The draft document was then open to ESHRE members for online peer review and was revised in light of the comments received. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The working group recommends considering RIF as a secondary phenomenon of ART, as it can only be observed in patients undergoing IVF, and that the following description of RIF be adopted: 'RIF describes the scenario in which the transfer of embryos considered to be viable has failed to result in a positive pregnancy test sufficiently often in a specific patient to warrant consideration of further investigations and/or interventions'. It was agreed that the recommended threshold for the cumulative predicted chance of implantation to identify RIF for the purposes of initiating further investigation is 60%. When a couple have not had a successful implantation by a certain number of embryo transfers and the cumulative predicted chance of implantation associated with that number is greater than 60%, then they should be counselled on further investigation and/or treatment options. This term defines clinical RIF for which further actions should be considered. Nineteen recommendations were formulated on investigations when RIF is suspected, and 13 on interventions. Recommendations were colour-coded based on whether the investigations/interventions were recommended (green), to be considered (orange), or not recommended, i.e. not to be offered routinely (red). LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION While awaiting the results of further studies and trials, the ESHRE Working Group on Recurrent Implantation Failure recommends identifying RIF based on the chance of successful implantation for the individual patient or couple and to restrict investigations and treatments to those supported by a clear rationale and data indicating their likely benefit. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This article provides not only good practice advice but also highlights the investigations and interventions that need further research. This research, when well-conducted, will be key to making progress in the clinical management of RIF. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS The meetings and technical support for this project were funded by ESHRE. N.M. declared consulting fees from ArtPRED (The Netherlands) and Freya Biosciences (Denmark); Honoraria for lectures from Gedeon Richter, Merck, Abbott, and IBSA; being co-founder of Verso Biosense. He is Co-Chief Editor of Reproductive Biomedicine Online (RBMO). D.C. declared being an Associate Editor of Human Reproduction Update, and declared honoraria for lectures from Merck, Organon, IBSA, and Fairtility; support for attending meetings from Cooper Surgical, Fujifilm Irvine Scientific. G.G. declared that he or his institution received financial or non-financial support for research, lectures, workshops, advisory roles, or travelling from Ferring, Merck, Gedeon-Richter, PregLem, Abbott, Vifor, Organon, MSD, Coopersurgical, ObsEVA, and ReprodWissen. He is an Editor of the journals Archives of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biomedicine Online, and Editor in Chief of Journal Gynäkologische Endokrinologie. He is involved in guideline developments and quality control on national and international level. G.L. declared he or his institution received honoraria for lectures from Merck, Ferring, Vianex/Organon, and MSD. He is an Associate Editor of Human Reproduction Update, immediate past Coordinator of Special Interest Group for Reproductive Endocrinology of ESHRE and has been involved in Guideline Development Groups of ESHRE and national fertility authorities. D.J.M. declared being an Associate Editor for Human Reproduction Open and statistical Advisor for Reproductive Biomedicine Online. B.T. declared being shareholder of Reprognostics and she or her institution received financial or non-financial support for research, clinical trials, lectures, workshops, advisory roles or travelling from support for attending meetings from Ferring, MSD, Exeltis, Merck Serono, Bayer, Teva, Theramex and Novartis, Astropharm, Ferring. The other authors had nothing to disclose. DISCLAIMER This Good Practice Recommendations (GPR) document represents the views of ESHRE, which are the result of consensus between the relevant ESHRE stakeholders and are based on the scientific evidence available at the time of preparation. ESHRE GPRs should be used for information and educational purposes. They should not be interpreted as setting a standard of care or be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care, or be exclusive of other methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. They do not replace the need for application of clinical judgement to each individual presentation, or variations based on locality and facility type. Furthermore, ESHRE GPRs do not constitute or imply the endorsement, or favouring, of any of the included technologies by ESHRE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - D Cimadomo
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, GENERA, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - G Griesinger
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
- University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - G Lainas
- Eugonia IVF, Unit of Human Reproduction, Athens, Greece
| | - N Le Clef
- ESHRE Central Office, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium
| | - D J McLernon
- School of Medicine Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - D Montjean
- Fertilys Fertility Centers, Laval & Brossard, Canada
| | - B Toth
- Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - N Vermeulen
- ESHRE Central Office, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium
| | - N Macklon
- Correspondence address. ESHRE Central Office, BXL7—Building 1, Nijverheidslaan 3, B-1853 Strombeek-Bever, Belgium. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Houston BJ, Riera-Escamilla A, Wyrwoll MJ, Salas-Huetos A, Xavier MJ, Nagirnaja L, Friedrich C, Conrad DF, Aston KI, Krausz C, Tüttelmann F, O’Bryan MK, Veltman JA, Oud MS. A systematic review of the validated monogenic causes of human male infertility: 2020 update and a discussion of emerging gene-disease relationships. Hum Reprod Update 2021; 28:15-29. [PMID: 34498060 PMCID: PMC8730311 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmab030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human male infertility has a notable genetic component, including well-established diagnoses such as Klinefelter syndrome, Y-chromosome microdeletions and monogenic causes. Approximately 4% of all infertile men are now diagnosed with a genetic cause, but a majority (60-70%) remain without a clear diagnosis and are classified as unexplained. This is likely in large part due to a delay in the field adopting next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, and the absence of clear statements from field leaders as to what constitutes a validated cause of human male infertility (the current paper aims to address this). Fortunately, there has been a significant increase in the number of male infertility NGS studies. These have revealed a considerable number of novel gene-disease relationships (GDRs), which each require stringent assessment to validate the strength of genotype-phenotype associations. To definitively assess which of these GDRs are clinically relevant, the International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC) has identified the need for a systematic review and a comprehensive overview of known male infertility genes and an assessment of the evidence for reported GDRs. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In 2019, the first standardised clinical validity assessment of monogenic causes of male infertility was published. Here, we provide a comprehensive update of the subsequent 1.5 years, employing the joint expertise of the IMIGC to systematically evaluate all available evidence (as of 1 July 2020) for monogenic causes of isolated or syndromic male infertility, endocrine disorders or reproductive system abnormalities affecting the male sex organs. In addition, we systematically assessed the evidence for all previously reported possible monogenic causes of male infertility, using a framework designed for a more appropriate clinical interpretation of disease genes. SEARCH METHODS We performed a literature search according to the PRISMA guidelines up until 1 July 2020 for publications in English, using search terms related to 'male infertility' in combination with the word 'genetics' in PubMed. Next, the quality and the extent of all evidence supporting selected genes were assessed using an established and standardised scoring method. We assessed the experimental quality, patient phenotype assessment and functional evidence based on gene expression, mutant in-vitro cell and in-vivo animal model phenotypes. A final score was used to determine the clinical validity of each GDR, across the following five categories: no evidence, limited, moderate, strong or definitive. Variants were also reclassified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics-Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG-AMP) guidelines and were recorded in spreadsheets for each GDR, which are available at imigc.org. OUTCOMES The primary outcome of this review was an overview of all known GDRs for monogenic causes of human male infertility and their clinical validity. We identified a total of 120 genes that were moderately, strongly or definitively linked to 104 infertility phenotypes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Our systematic review curates all currently available evidence to reveal the strength of GDRs in male infertility. The existing guidelines for genetic testing in male infertility cases are based on studies published 25 years ago, and an update is far overdue. The identification of 104 high-probability 'human male infertility genes' is a 33% increase from the number identified in 2019. The insights generated in the current review will provide the impetus for an update of existing guidelines, will inform novel evidence-based genetic testing strategies used in clinics, and will identify gaps in our knowledge of male infertility genetics. We discuss the relevant international guidelines regarding research related to gene discovery and provide specific recommendations to the field of male infertility. Based on our findings, the IMIGC consortium recommend several updates to the genetic testing standards currently employed in the field of human male infertility, most important being the adoption of exome sequencing, or at least sequencing of the genes validated in this study, and expanding the patient groups for which genetic testing is recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Houston
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Antoni Riera-Escamilla
- Andrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Margot J Wyrwoll
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Albert Salas-Huetos
- Andrology and IVF Laboratory, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Miguel J Xavier
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Liina Nagirnaja
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
- Genetics of Male Infertility Initiative (GEMINI)
| | - Corinna Friedrich
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Don F Conrad
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
- Genetics of Male Infertility Initiative (GEMINI)
- International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC)
| | - Kenneth I Aston
- Andrology and IVF Laboratory, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Genetics of Male Infertility Initiative (GEMINI)
- International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC)
| | - Csilla Krausz
- Genetics of Male Infertility Initiative (GEMINI)
- International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, Centre of Excellence DeNothe, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC)
| | - Moira K O’Bryan
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Genetics of Male Infertility Initiative (GEMINI)
- International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC)
| | - Joris A Veltman
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC)
| | - Manon S Oud
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rudnik-Schöneborn S, Messner M, Vockel M, Wirleitner B, Pinggera GM, Witsch-Baumgartner M, Murtinger M, Kliesch S, Swoboda M, Sänger N, Zschocke J, Tüttelmann F. Andrological findings in infertile men with two (biallelic) CFTR mutations: results of a multicentre study in Germany and Austria comprising 71 patients. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:551-559. [PMID: 33374015 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION When should cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation analysis be recommended in infertile men based on andrological findings? SUMMARY ANSWER CFTR mutation analysis is recommended in all men with unexplained azoospermia in the presence of normal gonadotropin levels. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY While 80-97% of men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) are thought to carry CFTR mutations, there is uncertainty about the spectrum of clinical and andrological abnormalities in infertile men with bilallelic CFTR mutations. This information is relevant for evidence-based recommendations to couples requesting assisted reproduction. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We studied the andrological findings of patients with two CFTR mutations who were examined in one of the cooperating fertility centres in Germany and Austria. In the period of January till July 2019, the completed and anonymized data sheets of 78 adult male patients were returned to and analysed by the project leader at the Institute of Human Genetics in Innsbruck, Austria. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Minimum study entry criteria were the presence of two (biallelic) CFTR mutations and results of at least one semen analysis. Andrological assessments were undertaken by standardized data sheets and compared with normal reference values. Seventy-one patients were eligible for the study (n = 30, 42% from Germany, n = 26, 37% from Austria, n = 15, 21% other nations). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Gonadotropin levels (FSH, LH) were normal, 22% of patients had reduced testosterone values. Mean right testis volume was 23.38 ml (SD 8.77), mean left testis volume was 22.59 ml (SD 8.68) and thereby statistically increased compared to normal (P < 0.01). although the means remained in the reference range of 12-25 ml. Semen analysis revealed azoospermia in 70 of 71 (99%) patients and severe oligozoospermia <0.1 × 106/ml in one patient. Four semen parameters, i.e. ejaculate volume, pH, α-glucosidase and fructose values, were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Only 18% of patients had a palpatory and sonographically diagnosed CBAVD, while in 31% the diagnosis of CBAVD was uncertain, in 12% patients, the vas deferens was present but hypoplastic, and in 39% the vas deferens was normally present bilaterally. Seminal vesicles were not detectable in 37% and only unilaterally present in 37% of patients. Apart from total testes volume, clinical findings were similar in patients with two confirmed pathogenic CFTR mutations (Group I) compared with patients who carried one pathogenic mutation and one CFTR variant of unknown significance (Group II). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION We could not formally confirm the in trans position of genetic variants in most patients as no family members were available for segregation studies. Nonetheless, considering that most mutations in our study have been previously described without other rare variants in cis, and in view of the compatible andrological phenotype, it is reasonable to assume that the biallelic genotypes are correct. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study reveals that CFTR mutation analysis has a broader indication than just the absence of the vas deferens. We recommend to completely sequence the CFTR gene if there is a suspicion of obstructive azoospermia, and to extend this analysis to all patients with unexplained azoospermia in the presence of normal gonadotropin levels. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) German Research Foundation Clinical Research Unit 'Male Germ Cells: from Genes to Function' (DFG CRU326, grants to F.T.). There are no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Rudnik-Schöneborn
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Messner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Vockel
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - B Wirleitner
- NEXTCLINIC, IVF Centres Prof. Zech, Bregenz, Bregenz, Austria
| | - G-M Pinggera
- Department of Urology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - M Murtinger
- NEXTCLINIC, IVF Centres Prof. Zech, Bregenz, Bregenz, Austria
| | - S Kliesch
- Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - M Swoboda
- VivaNeo Kinderwunschzentrum Dr. Loimer GmbH, Wels-Thalheim, Austria
| | - N Sänger
- Clinic of Gynecological Endocrinology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - J Zschocke
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - F Tüttelmann
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
["Practical spermiogram"-semen analysis according to WHO recommendations]. Urologe A 2021; 60:647-656. [PMID: 33929550 DOI: 10.1007/s00120-021-01537-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Semen analysis (spermiogram) is a crucial component of the diagnostic work-up of infertile patients, in cases of cryopreservation of semen for fertility protection prior to potentially gonadotoxic treatment or for the assessment of sperm quality for sperm donation. Practical semen analysis follows the recommendations of the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human sperm. The aim of semen analysis is to characterize the fertility potential of the male, which is supplemented by clinical and endocrine investigations before a final decision on treatment options is made. Since 2014, semen analysis has been subject to the guidelines on quality assurance in laboratory diagnostics of the Federal Medical Board (Rili-BÄK). In practical terms, the detailed performance of a macroscopic and microscopic analysis of semen is decisive for valid results and subsequent treatment decisions. Additional tests can help to make a better estimation of the fertility parameters.
Collapse
|