Male factor testing in recurrent pregnancy loss cases: A narrative review

Recurrent pregnancy loss is a distinct disorder defined as the loss of at least 2 pregnancies before the 20th wk of gestation. With one half of the genome of the embryo belonging to the father, the integrity of the sperm genome is crucial for a successful pregnancy. Semen analysis is recommended for men in such cases to evaluate sperm concentration, morphology, vitality and motility. However, other important sperm parameters such as sperm epigenetics, aneuploidy, Y chromosome microdeletion and chromatin integrity also correlate with successful pregnancy and delivery rate. This article examines the use of different sperm tests and their importance in male partners of women suffering from recurrent pregnancy loss.