Patient information · clinical guidance published by Medicus
Understanding your result and next steps
A double-strand break (DSB) is damage where both strands of the sperm cell's DNA helix are broken at the same point. These breaks are far harder for the egg cell to repair after fertilisation than single-strand breaks, which is why even small percentages are clinically significant.
What does your DSB value mean?
| Under 7 % | Within the normal range. The result gives no grounds for clinical concern relating to double-strand breaks. |
|---|---|
| 7–10 % | Elevated proportion of double-strand breaks. This is associated with an increased risk of aneuploid embryos (embryos with the wrong number of chromosomes), lower fertilisation rates and an increased risk of early miscarriage. |
| 11 % or higher your result | High proportion of double-strand breaks. This is strongly associated with repeated miscarriages, poor embryo quality and implantation failure, even with ICSI, as well as an increased risk of chromosomal errors in embryos. |
Factors that can contribute to a higher proportion of DSB
Lifestyle
- Smoking, vaping or snus use
- Overweight (BMI ≥ 30)
- Heat exposure (sauna, hot tub, laptop on the lap, tight underwear)
- Prolonged sitting
- High alcohol intake or recreational drugs
- Long abstinence intervals
Medical conditions
- Varicose veins in the testicle (varicocele)
- Infection or inflammation of the genital organs
- Advanced age
- Faults during sperm production
Speaking to a specialist
If you would like a more thorough review of your test results, along with suggestions for further treatment and measures, including an overall assessment of your male fertility, we recommend a dedicated consultation with a specialist. The focus there is on understanding the cause of elevated sperm DNA fragmentation and your reduced fertility, potentially supplemented by further investigations such as blood tests, and on giving you individual advice — regardless of which treatment you are undergoing or planning.
This consultation can be booked whether or not you have an elevated proportion of DNA damage.
Read more about or book a male infertility consultation here: https://medicus.no/konsultasjon-mannlig-fertilitet/