Clinical significance of sperm antibodies in infertile couples

Abstract

Three hundred seventy seven couples examined for infertility between October 1, 1967 and August 31, 1970 were sent questionnaires to evaluate their subsequent pregnancy rates. One hundred ninety eight couples (52.5%) responded. One hundred fifty nine of these had negative sperm antibody testing and 51.6% achieved a pregnancy. Thirty nine had positive sperm antibody tests, and the pregnancy rate was 38.5%. Nineteen women had negative or lower sperm antibody titers after condom therapy, and 10 (52.6%) became pregnant. Whereas only 2 of 7 women with a circulating sperm immobilizing antibody achieved a pregnancy, 8 of 12 women who only had a sperm agglutinating antibody became pregnant. Thirteen husbands had positive sperm antibody tests. Four of the eight who just had a sperm agglutinating antibody subsequently fathered a child. The five husbands with either a sperm immobilizing or both sperm agglutinating and sperm immobilizing antibodies did not.