Feulgen-DNA content of human sperm and outcome of in vitro fertilization

Feulgen-DNA content of sperm was quantified in fresh semen samples of 20 consecutive couples during preparation for in vitro fertilization to measure the condensation state of sperm chromatin. Results were expressed as a percentage of expected haploid DNA value (1c). No significant differences were found between those who did not get pregnant, those who went full term, and those who aborted. Because fertilization can occur with a minority of normal sperm, it is concluded that the present findings do not provide useful clinical information about pregnancy outcome and in vitro fertilization.