Author: Professor Sun Zixue, Director of the Reproductive and Male Urology Diagnosis and Treatment Center (Reproductive Medicine Department) at Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Although fetal停育 occurs in women, the causes may not necessarily lie with the female partner, as the quality of the embryo largely depends on the quality of the sperm and egg. For men, routine **analysis being normal does not completely indicate that there are no issues with sperm “quality,” and it also does not entirely rule out male factors.
Male **analysis is the most basic assessment of male fertility; the higher the quality, the greater the chance of pregnancy. However, a normal **analysis does not imply that it is unrelated to fetal停育. Male factors contributing to fetal停育 are often overlooked, but in recent years, with the advancement of male medicine, there has been more in-depth research into male factors in fetal停育. It is generally believed that the male reasons for fetal停育 mainly include the following three aspects.
1. Genetic factors: Abnormal embryonic development due to chromosomal number or structural abnormalities is a common cause of fetal停育. Research shows that the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in early fetal停育 is as high as 60%-70% (chromosomal abnormalities in miscarried fetuses account for 50%-60%, and approximately 10% have chromosomal abnormalities in one or both partners).
2. Infection factors: Clinical observations indicate that male bacterial infections account for about 10%-15%. Asymptomatic infections in the male reproductive tract **can contain a certain number of bacteria, viruses, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, etc. These infections can weaken the fertility of the pregnant woman, leading to embryo miscarriage.
3. Increased sperm DNA fragmentation rate: Sperm DNA fragmentation testing reveals that the chromosomes within the sperm nucleus carry the genetic code of human individuals. When the human sperm combines with the egg to form a fertilized egg, the sperm transmits its nuclear genetic information to the offspring, ensuring embryonic development. Therefore, chromosomal abnormalities in sperm or immature sperm nuclei can lead to abnormal embryonic development or cessation, potentially being significant factors in female miscarriage. Sperm DNA fragmentation testing is one of the methods for evaluating sperm nuclear function status.
