EFFECT OF LOW-DOSE CONTINUOUS CORTICOSTEROID-THERAPY IN MEN WITH ANTISPERM ANTIBODIES ON SPERMATOZOAL QUALITY AND CONCEPTION RATE

The use of steroids for treating male immunological infertility is con troversial. The effect of low dose prednisolone on sperm quality in me n with antisperm antibodies and the conception rate, was evaluated in 40 men and their wives. Significant circulating antisperm antibodies w ere detected by immunofluorescence technique. Prednisolone (5 mg) was administered orally, daily for 3-6 months in men with significant anti sperm antibodies. Another group of 37 men with significant antisperm a ntibodies, formed the control group. Both groups had initial pre- and post therapy semen analysis and hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. They were followed up for 12-18 months and the pregnancy outcome documented . There were significant improvement in sperm motility and hypoosmatic swelling test with therapy (P < 0.01, P > 0.05) of 13 and 15%: respec tively. The pregnancy rate of 20% was much greater than 5% in the cont rol group (P < 0.01). There were no side effects of prednisolone. Low dose prednisolone is useful in Antisperm antibody associated infertili ty, by improving the sperm quality and giving rise to pregnancies.