Decoding Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Clinical Implications in Male Infertility Management

Despite rising clinical interest, critical uncertainties persist regarding when, how, and for whom sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing should inform diagnosis, counseling, and treatment of infertile men.

This Research Topic aims to synthesize and advance current understanding of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) within the broader landscape of male infertility. By bridging mechanistic insights with pragmatic clinical frameworks, this Topic seeks to resolve key debates around SDF testing in infertile men, generate consensus on best practices, and deliver actionable recommendations to optimize reproductive outcomes.

We invite contributions that:

1. Elucidate biological mechanisms linking oxidative stress, inflammation, genetic and epigenetic factors, and testicular/epididymal dysfunction to sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF).

2. Compare SDF assay platforms, including SCSA (Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay), TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling), Comet (Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis Assay), and SCD (Sperm Chromatin Dispersion Test).

3. Establish clinically meaningful thresholds for SDF tests, and address analytical variability, standardization, and quality control.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Idiopathic Infertility, Male infertility, SDF, SDF assay, Sperm DNA fragmentation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.