Articles & Guides
Evidence-based guides on sperm DNA & male fertility
Written and reviewed by Dr. Leila Fazlicic, D.Ac., L.Ac. — Top Doctor — Findatopdoc.com — to help you understand and improve sperm quality before IVF.
After a Failed Cycle
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Guide →After a Failed Cycle
Failed IVF and Sperm DNA Fragmentation: The Modifiable Factor Most Couples Never Hear About
A normal semen analysis does not rule out sperm DNA fragmentation — one of the most under-tested factors behind an unexplained failed IVF cycle. Here’s what it is, why it disrupts embryo development, and what couples can do about it in the months before the next attempt.
After a Failed Cycle
Lifestyle Changes After a Failed IVF Cycle: What Actually Moves Your Biology
A failed cycle isn’t a verdict on you. The weeks before your next round are the highest-leverage window you have — here’s what actually moves egg and sperm quality, for both partners, without punishing rules.
After a Failed Cycle
Why Did My IVF Fail If Everything Looked Normal?
“Everything looked normal” after a failed IVF cycle rarely means there was no reason — it often means the reason was never measured. A look at the under-tested biology behind unexplained IVF failure, for both partners.
After a Failed Cycle
Failed IVF Cycle? The 5 Questions to Work Through Before the Next One
The embryo looked good, the numbers looked fine — and it still didn't work. Five honest, evidence-informed questions to work through before the next cycle, including the half of the equation a normal semen analysis can quietly leave unexamined.
Testing & Results
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Guide →Testing & Results
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test: What It Is, What It Costs, and How to Get One
A standard semen analysis doesn’t check whether the DNA inside each sperm is intact. The DFI test does — and in the U.S. it typically runs $100–$600 out of pocket. Here’s what the test measures, what it costs, how to request it, and how to read the result.
Testing & Results
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test Types: SCSA vs. TUNEL vs. Comet vs. SCD
Four assays measure sperm DNA fragmentation in different ways — and the numbers don't transfer between them. Here's what each test measures, its strengths and limits, and how to read your result.
Testing & Results
High DFI but Normal Semen Analysis — How Is That Possible?
Count, motility, and morphology came back normal — but the cycle still failed. Here's how a textbook-normal semen analysis can sit alongside a high DFI result, and why it matters.
Testing & Results
What Is a Good DFI Score? How to Read Your Sperm DNA Fragmentation Result
Is your DFI result reassuring or a red flag? A clear, evidence-based guide to sperm DNA fragmentation ranges — and why the same number means different things on different tests.
Lifestyle & Nutrition
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Guide →Lifestyle & Nutrition
The Best Evidence-Ranked Supplements for Sperm DNA Fragmentation (DFI)
Most “male fertility” formulas are generic multivitamins, and more antioxidant isn't better. Here's what each studied nutrient actually does for sperm DNA — and why supplements are polish, not foundation.
Lifestyle & Nutrition
How to Lower Sperm DNA Fragmentation Naturally
Most of what damages sperm DNA is driven by lifestyle and oxidative stress — which means it's modifiable. Here's the evidence-based way to lower DFI over one sperm cycle.