Redefining the relationship between sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay and outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques

Sperm chromatin structure assay failed to identify elevated DFI thresholds for negative pregnancy outcome after ART. Patients with low DFI (≤9%) were least likely to become pregnant, which is also contradictory to SCSA marketing, which states that DFIs of ≤15% have excellent fertility potential. Patients with HDS ≥17% had low pregnancy rates, indicating decreased fertility potential, which deserves further investigation. Larger studies are necessary to confirm that low DFI is associated with decreased fertility and, if proved, might redefine the use of the SCSA in evaluating infertility.