Is the male involved in the aetiology of ectopic pregnancy?

We have previously observed a low incidence of ectopic pregnancies in coupl es having gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) with donated spermatozoa, Based on findings in both animal and human models, we proposed the hypothes is that sperm defects may be associated with the expression of paternal gen es which cause abnormal early embryo development and predispose the embryos to interact inappropriately with the genital tract epithelium, and so incr ease the risk of an ectopic implantation. To both confirm and extend the in itial observation, GIFT and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies entere d on the Australian and New Zealand national database between 1979 and 1993 were analysed with regard to the incidence of ectopic pregnancy. There was an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy for IVF relative to GIFT and when s permatozoa from the male partner were used rather than donor spermatozoa. H owever, when couples were categorized with respect to the aetiology of thei r infertility, we were unable to show a significant association between ect opic pregnancy and whether spermatozoa from the male partner or a donor wer e used. We have therefore been unable to confirm a direct association betwe en the source of spermatozoa and ectopic pregnancy.