Antisperm autoantibodies and infertility

Abstract

Fourteen human infertile couples were studied along with seven fertile control couples in order to determine the presence of antisperm au. toantibodies and to correlate results with their clinical reproductive status, spermogram parameters and the quality of cervical mucus. Immunoglobulins of IgG and IgA isotypes were evaluated on spermatozoa by the direct immunobead technique and in serum and cervical mucus by the indirect method. The following differences were found: Nine of 14 male patients but only 1 of 7 male controls had IgG on spermatozoa (p= 0.042 and OR= 10.8). Seven out of 14 male patiens and 1 of 7 controls were positive for IgA on spermatozoa (p= 0.12). Infertile males had a higher frequency of abnormal spermogram parameters as compared to controls (p= 0.0029 and OR= 3.32). Interestingly, the presence of only IgG in serum appeared to be a "protective factor" against IgG on sperm; only one out of the 16 positive males contradicted this observation.