This study demonstrated that hypomethylation of H19-ICR and hypermethylation of SNRPN-ICR are associated with male infertility, and the risk is potentiated by smoking.
We conclude that idiopathic male infertility is strongly associated with imprinting defects at IGF2/H19 ICR1 and MEST, with aberrant MEST methylation being a strong indicator for sperm quality.