Sperm DNA damage is associated with poor assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcome, birth of offspring with major congenital malformation, recurrent spontaneous abortions after assisted and spontaneous conception. The presence of sperm in the ejaculate with high levels of DNA damage indicates either a defect or deficiency in sperm DNA repair mechanisms. ADP ribosylation brought about by poly ADP ribosylases (PARP) of proteins helps in recognition of DNA breaks and recruitment of DNA base excision repair (BER) enzymes. This study was planned to analyse the expression levels of PARP1 (PARP family member) in the sperm samples from both infertile (with normal semen parameters) and control (fertile) men and correlate with sperm DNA damage.The study included both infertile men (n = 29) and controls (n = 17). The expression level of PARP1 was quantified by qPCR. For all samples Comet assay and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was performed and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) calculated.Relative quantification showed that the level of expression of PARP1 was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower and percentage DFI significantly (P = 0.0015) higher in sperm samples from infertile men compared to controls. There was a negative correlation between PARP1 levels and sperm DNA damage.Abnormally low expression of DNA repair enzymes explains for the persistence of DNA damage in sperm. Low levels of PARP can explain for persistence of sperm DNA damage. This may be aetiology of infertility or recurrent pre implantation losses following assisted reproduction in cases with idiopathic infertility.