THE EFFECTS ON IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION OF AUTOANTIBODIES TO SPERMATOZOA IN SUBFERTILE MEN

Thirty-six infertile couples underwent treatment by in-vitro fertiliza tion. In 16 couples (group 1) the male partner was positive for antisp erm antibodies measured by direct mixed antiglobulin reaction, direct immunobead test, and serum and/or seminal plasma tray agglutination te st. In 20 couples (group 2) the men had no such antibodies. Men with p oor sperm motility were excluded. The female partners had no antisperm antibodies, and in the controls (group 2) infertility was due to a kn own female factor. The fertilization rate in couples without antisperm antibodies (group 2) was 72.7% compared to 50.5% when the men had ant ibodies. However, the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was not signi ficantly different in the two groups (46.1% in group 1, 33.3% in group 2). This indicates that antisperm antibodies in the male interfere wi th sperm-egg fusion and subsequent fertilization but once fertilizatio n has occurred, the pregnancy rate remains the same.