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Background: Sperm DNA fragmentation measured by different techniques make comparisons impossible due to lack of standardization. Induction of DNA damage after sperm preparation in the entire fraction has been observed on independent occasions but findings are not consistent., Methods: Men presenting at a University hospital setup for infertility treatment. DNA damage via TUNEL assay was validated on fresh semen samples, as conventional semen parameters, to reduce variability of results., Results: Sperm motility in neat semen inversely correlated with sperm DNA fragmentation in the total fraction, but, total count, leukocytes and immature germ cells significantly affected the vital fraction. Sperm DNA fragmentation was observed both in normal and subnormal semen samples, but was significantly different in the total fraction of astheno-, asthenoterato- and oligoteratozoospermic men. After density gradient centrifugation, sperm DNA fragmentation increased significantly in the total but decreased in the vital fraction. Advancing male age significantly influenced damage in the total but not in the vital population., Conclusions: These findings provide opportunities to investigate the significance of the total and the vital fractions both in natural conception and after different assisted reproductive technologies., (Copyright © 2018 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Does IDEF mapping help monitor the technical process of IUI and explore the potential improvements which might contribute to increased pregnancy and live birth rates? Method: Retrospective analysis of 1729 homologous IUI cycles of couples attending a fertility clinic in a university hospital setting. Standardized conventional semen parameters were analyzed and the semen samples prepared via discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. Results: There was no significant association between sperm concentration, motility and morphology (analysis phase), and pregnancy outcome. Only female and male ages were significantly associated with the pregnancy outcome. There was a significant difference in the odds on clinical pregnancies and live births when analysis was ≤ 21 min initiated, and < 107 min between sample production and IUI, adjusted for male and female age. Conclusions: Adjusting for the couple's age, we could show that time intervals between semen production and analysis and IUI when kept low significantly influenced clinical pregnancies and live births. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]