Find the Right Test for your Fertility Journey
Male infertility is the main cause in around a quarter of infertility cases and plays a role in about half of them overall. One of the most important factors that can affect your chances of conception or IVF success is sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) damage – and that’s what Examen’s specialist SDF tests measure.
Semen Analysis
Your first step in Male Fertility Testing
The usual first step for any man checking his fertility is the standard semen analysis (SA) test which measures the basic sperm characteristics that are known to influence conception – the number of sperm (count/concentration), how they move (motility & progressive motility), and their size and shape (morphology).
Men who have a ‘normal’ SA result are usually told they are fine and so their fertility is not investigated any further. But the SA test does not investigate or measure any aspect of the sperm’s DNA quality – meaning that men with a ‘normal’ SA test result can be unaware that sperm DNA damage can be present and affecting their chances of success.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) Testing
Understanding Sperm DNA Quality
Trying to Conceive for more than a year?
If you and your partner have been trying to conceive for more than 12 months, and especially if your semen analysis (SA) result was ‘normal’, checking your sperm DNA is the logical next step.
Research has shown that high Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) is associated with lower chances of achieving a successful pregnancy. This SDF damage is the single biggest factor causing male infertility beyond the basic SA metrics.
Exact measures the total level of SDF damage, and a fertile/infertile test result, providing the most accurate measure of total sperm DNA quality.
Experienced Miscarriage or Failed Fertility Treatment?
If you have experienced two or more pregnancy losses (miscarriages), or if you have had unsuccessful Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment, you should consider investigating the most challenging type of SDF damage – double-stranded SDF (dsSDF).
High levels of dsSDF damage can more than double the risk of miscarriage and can help predict the probability of a successful live birth before IVF.
Extend was created with this more specialised focus – to exclusively detect and measure this deeper-level dsSDF damage, helping you and your fertility specialist to choose the right course of action.
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Key Facts about Male Fertility & DNA Damage
Male infertility is the #1 reason couples seek IVF treatment.
Sperm DNA damage is one of the most important factors causing male infertility.
High levels of sperm DNA fragmentation damage is associated with a greater risk of miscarriage.
66% of men in a recent recurrent miscarriage study had a ‘normal’ semen analysis – but over half of them had high dsSDF.