Alessa Sugihara

Alessa Sugihara


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2020 in European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ASAlessa Sugihara
Alessa Sugihara
FAFreya Van Avermaete
Freya Van Avermaete
ERElla Roelant
Ella Roelant
UPUsha R. Punjabi
Usha R. Punjabi
DNDiane De Neubourg
Diane De Neubourg


28 November 2023 in Journal of Personalized Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ASAlessa Sugihara
Alessa Sugihara
UPUsha R. Punjabi
Usha R. Punjabi
TCTiziana Chimienti
Tiziana Chimienti
IGIlse Goovaerts
Ilse Goovaerts
KPKris Peeters
Kris Peeters
DNDiane De Neubourg
Diane De Neubourg
Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm (IUI-D) requires multiple in vitro manipulations such as sperm selection and cryopreservation during which spermatozoa may be exposed to oxidative stress (OS) and other insults that may produce potential damage including sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). High levels of SDF, referring to damage or breaks in the genetic material of sperm cells, are linked to an increased risk of reproductive failure. This retrospective, observational study set out to evaluate whether SDF assessment could predict clinical outcome in an IUI-D program, where sperm donors are selected on strict conventional semen parameters. A total of 18 donors and 106 recipients were matched for IUI-D. Out of 429 cycles, 100 (23.3%) resulted in clinical pregnancy. We counted 78 live births (18.2% of cycles), while 20 pregnancies ended in miscarriage (4.7% of cycles), 1 in extra-uterine pregnancy and 1 in stillbirth. Female age significantly influenced clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates. SDF increased after cryopreservation (26.3 ± 14.5%; p < 0.001) and more so after post-thaw density gradient (34.9 ± 22.1%; p = 0.04) without affecting clinical pregnancy (OR [95% CI] 1.01 [0.99; 1.02]; p = 0.27), live birth (1.00 [0.99; 1.02]; p = 0.72) and miscarriage rates (1.02 [1.00; 1.05]; p = 0.08). The implications of our findings extend to a better selection of sperm donors and a better sperm preparation technique tailored to the donor semen’s properties in order to maximize the chances of a favorable treatment outcome.