A study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics reveals it may be necessary to complete karyotype analysis in all infertile couples. Research was completed at a reproductive center in Zhengzhou City, China.
Slightly less than 15,000 couples took part in the study. All couples visited the reproductive center with questions or concerns about fertility. Patients were seen between January 2004 and December 2011. Doctors ordered three semen analyses during treatment for all males.
Chromosomal anomalies were found in 3.84% of couples, or 1,150 issues out of 29,930 patients. Men were more apt to screen positive for anomalies than women with rates of 1,024 per 14,965 and 126 per 14,965, respectively. Researchers found issues in normal semen and light (light oligo-astheno spermia) groups.
Conclusion: Researchers suggest chromosome detection, specifically blood lymphocyte karyotype, for all infertile couples based on the rate of chromosomal anomaly detection reported.
Source: Liu Y, Kong XD, Wu QH, Li G, Song L, Sun YP. Karyotype analysis in large-sample infertile couples living in Central China: a study of 14965 couples. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013 Mar 9.
