Karolina Nowak: Sperm DNA Methylation Variability and Pregnancy Outcomes
Karolina Nowak, Postdoctoral Researcher at Wayne State University, shared a post on LinkedIn about a paper she co-authored with colleagues published in Human Reproduction:
“When it comes to male fertility, standard semen analysis doesn’t tell the whole story.
In our latest study published in Human Reproduction, we examined associations between sperm DNA methylation variability, measured as sperm Epigenetic Variability Outliers and Stochasticity (EVOS), and natural conception and pregnancy outcomes.
We found that greater EVOS is linked to reduced fecundability, corresponding to a 21% reduction in per-cycle conception odds and a longer time-to-pregnancy.
Crucially, this association remained consistent even among couples where the male partner’s semen was classified as ‘normal’ by WHO standards.
Ultimately, our findings underscore the value of looking beyond routine semen parameters and the importance of male factors in reproductive success.
Proud to share this work with co-authors Carrie Nobles, Oladele Oluwayiose, Ricardo Bertolla, Alexander Suvorov, and Richard Pilsner!”
Title: Interindividual variability of sperm DNA methylation is associated with reduced fecundability in couples attempting natural conception
Authors: Karolina Nowak, Carrie Nobles, Oladele Oluwayiose, Ricardo Bertolla, Alexander Suvorov, Richard Pilsner
You can read the Full Article in Human Reproduction.
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