The effect of paternal age on semen quality and fertilization outcome in men with normal sperm DNA compaction, reactive oxygen species, and total antioxidant capacity levels

Özet

Objective: Studies showed a decrease of the semen analysis parameters and an increase in the average ageof first-time fathers over the past several decades. The aim of the present study was to assess the influenceof paternal age on semen quality and fertilization outcomes in men with normal sperm DNA fragmenta-tion and chromatin maturation index (DFI and CMI), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and total antioxidantcapacity (TAC) levels.Material and methods: The study was performed on 70 men with their wife’s age ≤38 years and normalsperm DFI, CMI, ROS, and TAC levels. None of the couples had a history of genital inflammation, chronicdiseases, endocrine abnormality, chromosomal aberrations, Y chromosome microdeletion, azoospermia,and leukocytospermia. These men were separated into 2 groups according to their age (group A: age <45years and group B: age ≥45 years). Semen analysis and fertilization outcome after using the intracytoplasmicsperm injection were assessed in both groups.Result: Sperm concentration showed a significant reduction in group B (p= 0.04). Although semen vol-ume, sperm normal morphology, and progressive motility were decreased in group B, the reduction wasnot significant when compared with group A (p= 0.09, p= 0.47, and p= 0.77, respectively). In addition, thedifferences of embryo quality with grades A, B, and C and 8-cell embryo formation were not statisticallysignificant between the 2 groups.Conclusion: These results demonstrated that in men with normal sperm DFI, CMI, ROS, and TAC levels,there were no significant changes in semen parameters and fertilization outcomes with an increasing age.