Abstract
BACKGROUND: Severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), characterized by a reduced sperm count, motility, and altered morphology, presents a significant challenge in the field of male infertility. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), renowned for its regenerative capabilities, emerges as a potential intervention for this condition. This study aims to explore the impact of PRP on male infertility, focusing specifically on individuals with severe OAT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical trial study involved 88 infertile men diagnosed with OAT and devoid of underlying diseases. These participants were referred to the infertility center and subsequently divided into two cohorts: a control (44 individuals) and an intervention group (44 individuals). Patients in the intervention group received 2 cc of PRP in each testicle, prepared by centrifuging the patients autologous blood samples. Sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of the patients were measured before and after the procedure. Statistical analysis used SPSS version 16 software, with a significance level set at less than 5%. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in concentration (11.32 ± 8.44 vs. 16.06 ± 15.16, P=0.030), progressive motility (8.86 ± 7.79 vs. 11.97 ± 11.82%, P=0.014) and DNA fragmentation (25.62 ± 12.84 vs. 17.23 ± 9.15%, P<0.001) between the control and intervention groups after PRP injection. However, no significant difference was found in normal morphology (1.63 ± 1.44 vs. 1.81 ± 3.68%, P=0.628) and volume (2.13 ± 0.82 vs. 2.24 ± 1.43, P=0.663) between the control and intervention groups after PRP injection. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of PRP treatment in increasing sperm concentration and motility, while also reducing sperm DNA fragmentation. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings (registration number: IRCT20220317054318N2).