Research is continually being carried out looking into pregnancy loss and premature birth. In the UK, Tommy’s is one of the largest charities carrying out this research.
1 in 4 pregnancies are affected by miscarriage, with approximately half of these likely being due to a chromosomal abnormality. This suggests that there are other causes of miscarriage, some of which we can detect during testing. Current guidelines define recurrent miscarriage as 3 consecutive pregnancy losses and are not investigated until this point in the NHS. Proposals for changes in the guidance have been made and once published will give clarity to women, their families and those caring for the women for a step by step approach to appropriate testing.
One of the questions we are often asked by men, is, “Could it be that my sperm are contributing to our losses and are there any tests I can have”?
A research team at Tommy’s are currently looking at the presence of DNA damage in sperm suggesting that it can more than double the risk of miscarriage. There is not enough research on the role sperm damage and miscarriage, but if sperm damage can be prevented, it might make miscarriage less likely. The small trial is looking at the the effects of antioxidants in preventing DNA damage in the sperm by screening men and those with high DNA damage are being treated with either a dietary supplement or placebo. If justified, a larger trial may be indicated to research this more fully.
A study carried out by St Mary’s in London found that sperm of the men in the miscarriage group had twice as much DNA damage as that in the control group. Molecules that are formed by cells in the semen to protect against bacteria and infection can cause damage to sperm cells if they are present in high enough concentrations. Studies have shown that factors such as poor diet, being overweight, smoking, infection and pollution all increase how fragmented the DNA within sperm is. While research is ongoing, men can make simple lifestyle changes to improve the quality of their sperm DNA.
Further info:
The effect of sperm damage in miscarriage | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
Damaged sperm could be to blame for repeated miscarriages | Fertility problems | The Guardian