In recent years, there has been an increasing number of patients experiencing embryonic arrest in clinical practice. According to relevant data, the annual number of natural miscarriages in China is around 1.2-1.5 million, with embryonic arrest accounting for 50%!
The high incidence of embryonic arrest is closely related to the quality of pregnancy planning. In this regard, male factors also contribute to half of the reasons!
The following 6 high-risk factors for male embryonic arrest cannot be ignored:
1. Chromosomal abnormalities
â‘ Abnormal chromosome number: Abnormal chromosome numbers can lead to male infertility, making it difficult for the fertilized egg to develop into an embryo, implant and develop, resulting in repeated miscarriages, embryonic arrest, etc. Serious abnormalities in chromosome number significantly affect the transmission of genetic material. A fetus with abnormal chromosome numbers can lead to miscarriage, mid-term pregnancy termination, neonatal demise, and surviving newborns often have birth defects, slow growth, or functional abnormalities, including mild to severe intellectual disabilities, infertility, or shortened lifespan.
â‘¡ Chromosome structural abnormalities: These are caused by fragment exchange and misalignment during the inheritance process, such as balanced translocations, Robertsonian translocations, etc., increasing the risk of miscarriage.
â‘¢ Y chromosome: The Y chromosome is a male-specific sex chromosome. Microdeletions of the Y chromosome often lead to azoospermia, oligospermia, causing infertility. Length variations of the Y chromosome have genetic effects and are related to miscarriage and embryonic arrest.
2. High sperm DNA fragmentation rate
The integrity of the genetic material DNA inside sperm is crucial for sperm-egg interactions, fertilization, and early embryo division. Studies show that individuals with over 30% sperm DNA damage have a significantly increased probability of female infertility or early miscarriage.
3. Decreased sperm motility
This may be related to the quality of sperm itself. Low sperm motility is just one manifestation of poor sperm quality. Further research on sperm quality should be conducted to better guide clinical practice.
4. Seminal infection
Many studies have found that chlamydia and mycoplasma infections are important pathogens causing recurrent miscarriages. Male individuals with mycoplasma and chlamydia infections usually transmit these to female partners, triggering immune responses in females, damaging or interfering with embryos in the uterus. It may disrupt the autologous immune system regulation mechanism protecting embryos, increasing the likelihood of embryonic arrest.
5. Unhealthy lifestyle habits
Unhealthy habits such as long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, and staying up late can impair male reproductive health, indirectly affecting the quality and safety of embryos. When males engage in high-temperature, radiation-exposed work, the probability of sperm deformities increases. The combination of deformed sperm and eggs can lead to embryonic arrest.
6. Unknown reasons and immune factors
When female factors are ruled out and no obvious abnormalities are found in male examinations, but recurrent miscarriages still occur, this situation is not uncommon clinically. These individuals may have associations with age, living environment, smoking, drinking, and other unhealthy lifestyles.
In addition, during the sexual intercourse between couples, bleeding, wounds, and other conditions in the female reproductive tract can lead to the production of anti-sperm antibodies, which can kill sperm, making it difficult for females to conceive.
In conclusion, when both spouses experience embryonic arrest ≥2 times, it is recommended for both spouses to undergo relevant examinations simultaneously, analyze the reasons for failure, in order to better achieve the goal of having a baby and avoid the tragedy of recurrent embryonic arrest.
