Assessment of the relevance of zona pellucida antibodies in serum and cervical mucus in patients who have fertilization failure during in vitro fertilization

Abstract

To assess whether antibodies to the zona pellucida can cause fertilization failure during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Two methods for detecting zona pellucida antibodies were used to assess 20 women undergoing IVF. Nine patients had failed fertilization during the treatment cycle. Academic IVF department of a teaching hospital. Infertile patients previously assessed as requiring IVF. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue to achieve pituitary down regulation and human menopausal gonadotropin for superovulation. Transvaginal ultrasound directed oocyte recovery. Cervical mucus and serum samples were obtained. The presence of antizona pellucida antibodies in serum or cervical mucus in relation to fertilization. Seven of 20 patients had antizona antibodies in serum and 7 of 20 patients had antibodies in mucus. Only 1 patient had antibodies in both samples. No correlation between the presence of antibodies in either sample and failure of fertilization was found. Detection of antizona pellucida antibodies by the methods described have no role in the prediction of IVF.