Home » Blog » Does weak sperm cause the fetal heart not to form? Is it possible?

Does weak sperm cause the heart of the fetus not to form?

The question that many clients ask is whether the quality of the sperm and also the weakness of the sperm affects the heart diseases of the fetus or its non-formation or not. This article discusses this issue.

Effects of sperm on the fetal heart

Since the pregnant mother's body carries the child, many of the suspected causes of miscarriage are related to factors that exist in the mother. The role of the father, or specifically his sperm, has often been overlooked in the past for paternalistic reasons. However, there may be cases where sperm quality can affect pregnancy and even cause miscarriage.

It is important to remember that there is often no clear explanation for miscarriage. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) states that less than half of abortions in the United States have an identifiable cause.

This can be frustrating. Especially if the couple has experienced miscarriage several times. The ASRM also states, however, that two-thirds of women who experience recurrent pregnancy loss have a healthy pregnancy.

Weak sperm and miscarriage

In the past, more attention was focused on women when it comes to sperm quality and miscarriage. Recently, studies have been done specifically on men and the relationship between sperm quality and achieving a successful pregnancy. According to fertility experts, more research is needed on this matter; But today, more than ever, infertility issues are known. From abnormal chromosomes to fragmentation of sperm DNA to even lifestyle choices, there are many ways sperm can affect the outcome of a pregnancy. It is recommended when a miscarriage occurs; Especially when it is repeated several times, the tests focus on the parents.

Issues Chromosome

The main cause of miscarriage is chromosomal problems. Chromosomes are blocks of DNA that encode all the information needed during fetal growth and development. Since half of a developing fetus's chromosomes come from the father, it is possible that abnormal paternal chromosomes are involved in the pregnancy.

Three out of four miscarriages occur in the first trimester. Typically, if a woman miscarries in the first trimester, there is a problem with the fetus's chromosomes.

If there are chromosomal problems, something goes wrong during conception and the fetus receives the wrong number of chromosomes (too many or too few). This may eventually lead to miscarriage. However, not all fetuses with chromosomal problems are aborted. For example, fetuses with trisomy 21 have Down syndrome.

In the past, researchers focused on the egg as the main source of chromosome problems. One reason is that (usually) only one egg is ovulated per menstrual cycle.

By choosing the right sperm, the best natural selection is made before conception. which theoretically results in the "best possible" fertilization of the egg.

Furthermore, genetic studies of tissue from abortions have identified errors in the mother's first phase of meiosis (early egg development) as the most likely source of abnormalities that cause miscarriages.

But some research in the past decade suggests that this may not always be the case. In some cases of recurrent miscarriage, the father appears to have too many abnormal chromosomes in his sperm.

There is no real estimate of how many abnormal sperm contribute to recurrent miscarriage. Chromosomal problems within sperm are believed to be the main cause of frequent miscarriages.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation

One of the keys to sperm quality is the DNA that may be damaged. When this damage occurs, it is called sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and is the focus of many research studies looking at the causes of miscarriage.

SDF can occur for a variety of reasons. Among these are cell death, environmental toxins and disease or fever. Sperm cannot repair cell damage like other cells in the body, and this is one of the main causes of male infertility. This damage also affects the structure of the DNA within the sperm and can potentially lead to miscarriage if it fertilizes the egg.

One study compared couples who had experienced multiple miscarriages with couples with infertile men and fertile men. The result was that sperm involved in abortion were more likely to have fragmentation symptoms at almost the same rate as infertile men.

These types of results suggest that there is a common factor between SDF in fertile sperm leading to abortion and the inability to impregnate infertile sperm. However, researchers note that SDF alone cannot predict the risk of miscarriage.

Lifestyle

When a woman becomes pregnant. The importance of her lifestyle choices to encourage a healthy pregnancy and healthy fetus is often emphasized. It seems that a man's lifestyle may also play a role. Just as a woman's health is important before pregnancy, a man's health is also important.

This is primarily due to the effect on sperm quality (weak or strong sperm). Things like smoking, drug and alcohol use, diet, weight and exercise can all affect a man's sperm health.

An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to many factors that decrease the chances of a successful pregnancy. This includes decreased sperm motility and vitality, lower sperm count, and abnormal morphology (sperm size and shape). It can also lead to physical harm. Any damage to the sperm can cause fertility problems, and if the egg is fertilized, it may also lead to miscarriage.

Sperm testing

Some doctors may recommend that men in situations where no other reason for repeated miscarriages can be found. Perform sperm quality tests to determine the weakness of their sperm. The standard test is a sperm analysis, which looks at the shape, motility, and number of sperm in the sample.

There are also a few sperm DNA tests that go beyond visual examination. However, the ASRM notes that this is experimental at best and is not yet a reliable predictor of a couple's ability to conceive or the likelihood of miscarriage.

Sperm quality can sometimes, but not always, be improved by lifestyle changes or medications.

Dr. Saeed Bitarafan Fetal Echocardiologist and Pediatric Cardiology Specialist