Yes, damaged sperm can be repaired, particularly during fertilization.
Sperm can sustain damage to its DNA, either during its development (gametogenesis) or from external factors after formation. If this damage isn't corrected during sperm production, the good news is that repair mechanisms exist during fertilization. Specifically, the process of fertilization, which includes pronuclei formation, DNA replication, and the fusion of pronuclei to create a zygote, provides an opportunity for this repair to occur. This repair is essential for the development of a healthy embryo.
Essentially, even if damaged sperm manages to fertilize an egg, cellular repair mechanisms within the egg can often correct the DNA damage, ensuring proper embryonic development.
