Epigenetics can impact the path to pregnancy, even when a semen analysis is within normal range¹

Path SpermQT™ is the only test that analyzes sperm quality based on epigenetic patterns

What is the difference?

Path SpermQT provides additional information to the conventional semen analysis. 

Current Semen Analysis

  • Microscopic analysis of count, concentration and motility
  • Assesses the sperm’s ability to get to the egg

Path SpermQT

  • Molecular, DNA-based profile of epigenetic quality factors
  • Assesses the sperm’s ability to achieve a successful pregnancy

How can we tell? Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the study of changes caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

  • DNA methylation is a type of epigenetic modification that can affect the expression of your genes.
  • Genes associated with biological functions, such as spermatogenesis and embryo development, show specific DNA methylation patterns in fertile and healthy men.
  • Genes in sperm that show irregular DNA methylation patterns are less able to express the functionality needed to achieve pregnancy. 

  • Path SpermQT analyzes the genes to quantify irregular and healthy methylation patterns to assess the sperm quality – providing a score of Excellent, Normal, or Poor sperm quality.
  • This Path SpermQT result helps to make better, more personalized predications about fertility outcomes.

Benefits of Path SpermQT

In a study of 554 men, those with an Excellent SpermQT result had almost a 3x higher chance of pregnancy than those with Poor SpermQT result when undergoing IUI (average of 2.5 IUI cycles in this study).²

There was no significant difference in pregnancy rates when undergoing IVF, indicating that IVF can overcome the epigenetic sperm quality issues.²  

Knowing this information ahead of time means providers and couples can save time and improve pregnancy rates by moving on to treatments more likely to succeed.

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Better Treatment Planning

Find the Missing Piece

In a study of 1331 men, 4 out of 5 men with a Poor SpermQT result presented with normal concentration and normal total motile count,² finding a previously unidentified subfertile group of men.  

Without this key additional information, couples may not understand why they are facing fertility issues.

Our Experts

Kristin Brogaard, PhD

Alex Pastuszak, MD, PhD, HCLD

Larry Lipshultz, MD

References
  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/and.13586
  2. Path SpermQT White Paper; Jenkins, Tim et al. “The impact of zinc and folic acid supplementation on sperm DNA methylation: results from the folic acid and zinc supplementation randomized clinical trial (FAZST).” Fertility and sterility vol. 117,1 (2022): 75-85. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.09.009
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