At an infertility consultation event on August 2, N.V.H., a 39-year-old man from Hanoi, shared his difficult 12-year journey to fatherhood. Despite normal semen analysis results and undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) multiple times, all four initial attempts failed. It wasn’t until his fifth cycle that doctors conducted a Halosperm test and discovered 40% of his sperm had fragmented DNA - an unexpected cause of his previous IVF failures.

Doctors at the Reproductive Support Center, Post and Telecommunications Hospital in Hanoi, then performed testicular microsurgery to retrieve less oxidized and more intact sperm. The new sample showed only 10% fragmentation, leading to a successful IVF. His wife is now 12 weeks pregnant.

Dr. Bach Huy Anh, PhD - Deputy Director of the Reproductive Support Center at Post and Telecommunications Hospital - noted five main causes of sperm DNA fragmentation:

Oxidative stress: Triggered by smoking, pollution, aging, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles.
Chronic reproductive tract infections: Including epididymitis and prostatitis.
Environmental factors: High heat exposure (saunas, tight clothing, prolonged sitting).
Hormonal imbalances: Affecting spermatogenesis.
Genetic issues: Chromosomal abnormalities or gene mutations.

According to Dr. Huy Anh, Vietnam’s male infertility rate is alarmingly high. A 2010 study across seven ecological zones reported a 7.7% infertility rate. By 2023, this figure had surged to 17.8%. Each year, around 1 million Vietnamese couples of reproductive age face infertility risks, and more than half of these cases involve individuals under 30.

Semen analyses now frequently reveal reduced sperm quality compared to 2010: lower concentrations, weaker motility, and abnormal morphology. Environmental pollution, low-quality food, smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, and chronic stress are all “silent culprits” undermining male reproductive health.

While past treatments primarily focused on female infertility, Dr. Huy Anh emphasized that many cases could be resolved more efficiently if male factors were properly diagnosed. “Andrology is no longer a peripheral field but a critical component of modern reproductive medicine,” he said.

He urged men to prioritize reproductive health, especially as infertility becomes increasingly common among younger generations.

Phuong Thuy