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Abstract

Background: Male infertility is issue a prevalent, involves various factors. Sperm quality, particularly influenced by smoking, is crucial for fertility. DNA fragmentation, indicating damage to DNA strands in sperm cells, is gaining importance in male infertility research, especially concerning abnormal sperm morphology.

Aim: To investigate the potential influence of smoking on both sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation in male fertility.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 83 participants (38 nonsmokers and 45 smokers) with Normozoospermia provided informed consent. Semen samples were collected following at WHO 2021 guidelines. Sperm morphology was evaluated using Kruger Strict Criteria with Hematoxylin stain, and DNA fragmentation index was assessed using Aniline Blue Stain and Sperm Chromatin damage.

Results: The significant correlation signs were especially clear in various parameters, including sperm concentration (P=0.000484), sperm morphology (P=0.0001), as well as specific morphological characteristics such as pin & small head (P=0.039), round head (P=0.002), tapered head (P=0.008), irregular neck (P=0.002), short tail (P=0.020), sperm nuclear maturity (P=0.048), and sperm chromatin dispersion (P=0.042). Notably, no significant correlation was found between smoking and non-smoking individuals with normal sperm morphology and undamaged DNA in sperm.

Conclusion: Show a links between sperm abnormal morphology and DNA damage in smoking and nonsmoking. Additionally, both smokers and nonsmokers with abnormal sperm morphology according to the Tygerberg criteria exhibited a notable rise in DNA damage index as well as appear important to use Kruger strict criteria to detect sperm morphology in routine semen analysis.

Keywords: DNA Fragmentation index, Smokers, Sperm Morphology, Hematoxylin Stain and Kruger Strict Criteria.

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