Epigenetic determinants of reproductive potential augment the predictive ability of the semen analysis

Objective

To investigate the power of DNA methylation variability in sperm cells in assessing male fertility potential.

Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

Fertility care centers.

Patients

Male patients seeking infertility treatment and fertile male sperm donors.

Intervention

None.

Main Outcome Measures

Sperm DNA methylation data from 43 fertile sperm donors were analyzed and compared with the data from 1344 men seeking fertility assessment or treatment. Methylation at gene promoters with the least variable methylation in fertile patients was used to create 3 categories of promoter dysregulation in the infertility treatment cohort: poor, average, and excellent sperm quality.

Results

After controlling for female factors, there were significant differences in intrauterine insemination pregnancy and live birth outcomes between the poor and excellent groups across a cumulative average of 2–3 cycles: 19.4% vs. 51.7% (P=.008) and 19.4% vs. 44.8% (P=.03), respectively. Live birth outcomes from in vitro fertilization, primarily with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, were not found to be significantly different among any of the 3 groups.

Conclusion

Methylation variability in a panel of 1233 gene promoters could augment the predictive ability of semen analysis and be a reliable biomarker for assessing intrauterine insemination outcomes. In vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection appears to overcome high levels of epigenetic instability in sperm.