Paternal age: Negative impact on sperm genome decays and IVF outcomes after 40 years
This study assessed sperm quality declining on relation to paternal age and its impact on
in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in order to estimate the APA (Advanced Paternal
Age) cutoff. For this, 83 couples undergoing IVF treatment for male factor infertility
were enrolled. The women age was ≤39 years, whereas the men were divided in two
groups: APA (n = 41; age ≥ 40 years) and young (Y) (n = 42; age < 40 years).
Conventional semen parameters (volume, concentration, motility, vitality, and
morphology) were analyzed in the collected sperm samples. Furthermore, sperm
genome decays (SGD) was assessed by TUNEL assay (DNA fragmentation), aniline blue
staining (chromatin decondensation), and fluorescent in situ hybridization (aneuploidy).
No significant difference was found concerning the conventional semen parameters
between APA and Y groups. Conversely, SGD analysis showed increased DNA
fragmentation; chromatin decondensation and sperm aneuploidy rates in the APA
group (respectively, 41%, 43%, and 14% vs. 25%, 23%, and 4% in Y group). IVF
outcomes also were affected by paternal age as indicated by the rates of cancelled
embryo transfers, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage in the two groups APA and Y
(29%, 17%, and 60% vs. 10%, 32%, and 42%). Finally, statistical analysis of the results
suggests that the age of 40 should be considered as the APA cutoff during ART
attempts