The clinical significance of antisperm antibodies in infertile couples.

Abstract

Sera from 150 women and 162 men with unexplained infertility were examined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for antisperm antibodies. The results were compared to those of the Friberg agglutination test, the post-coital test, the sperm-cervical mucus contact (SCMC) test and the pregnancy rate. We also tested follicular fluids obtained from 38 women who underwent in-vitro fertilization (IVF). These data were compared with those obtained in serum, post-coital test data and with the later development of the oocyte in IVF. Antibodies in follicular fluid were found only in women with antibodies circulating in serum. The correlation coefficient between these was 0.88 (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between antisperm antibodies in serum found with the ELISA test, and with the agglutination test, the post-coital test or the SCMC test. Neither was there any correlation between antibodies in follicular fluid and the post-coital test, the pregnancy rate or successful IVF.