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Background: Sperm cryopreservation is currently the only clinically available technique for preservation of male gametes for subsequent use in assisted reproduction technologies. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the impact of semen cryopreservation on human sperm DNA. Patients and methods: The study sample consists of 20 male patients seeking seminal fluid analysis at the andrology laboratory of a specialized IVF center (ADAM International Hospital for Fertility and Sterility, Giza, Egypt), and accepting to sign a consent of approval to participate in the study, with the diagnoses of normozoospermia, oligozoospermia (either isolated or combined with asthenozoospermia or teratozoospermia). Results: There is no statistical difference between Pre-freezing and vitrification regarding DNA fragmentation, P>0.05. No statistical difference between Pre-freezing and slow frozen regarding DNA fragmentation, P>0.05. Finally, there is no significant statistical difference between vitrification and slow frozen regarding DNA fragmentation, P>0.05. Conclusion: The sperm DNA fragmentation index was not affected during cryopreservation under the various methods of storage tested. Clinicians and investigators should take this information into consideration when using cryopreserved sperm for assisted reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryopreservation is the collection, freezing, and long term storage of sperm, and is a highly effective method of protecting male fertility. Cryopreservation of semen has been widely used as a vital method for fertility preservation of male patients before undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery that may lead to testicular failure or ejaculatory dysfunction. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the aseptic technology of cryoprotectant-free vitrification of human spermatozoa in large volume, to conventional freezing protocol as regards post thawing motility, vitality and sperm DNA fragmentation. Patients and methods: This study included a total of 20 male patients seeking seminal fluid analysis, attending at the andrology laboratory of a specialized IVF center (ADAM International Hospital for Fertility and Sterility, Giza, Egypt. Patients were presented with the diagnoses of normozoospermia, oligozoospermia (either isolated or combined with asthenozoospermia or teratozoospermia). Results: Motility of (in a large volume (300 μl) in the absence of permeable cryoprotectants displayed significant statistically lower levels as compared to conventional Sperm Freezing. It was shown in different groups at different times (post thawing and 1-hour and 24-hour) of assessment that motility of vitrified spermatozoa decreases in comparison with slow conventional freezing as we go from the baseline. DNA fragmentation of vitrified spermatozoa showed higher levels as compared to conventional slow freezing but there is no significant statistical difference between vitrification and conventional slow freezing in DNA fragmentation. Conclusion: It could be concluded that vitrification technique was quite far away from comparison with slow conventional freezing protocol, and still need for further modifications and wide scale of study to achieve the good results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]