[Autoagglutinating sperm. One form of immunological male sterility]

The autoagglutination of sperm is an uncommon form of male sterility that must not, however, go unrecognized. Diagnosis of this condition is not always easy and in none of the 10 cases studied was the presence of agglutinins reported at the time of the first examination of the sperm. However, the inconsistency between a poor or negative post-coital test in a clear fluid and an apparently normal sperm count must be investigated. The idea of there being some connexion with allergic conditions in the patient or a close relative have often been discussed. By means of immunological techniques - which have not yet been thoroughly perfected in this field - it is usually possible to detect antibodies in the serum and sometimes also in the seminal plasma. In such cases the prognosis is not good as there is no effective therapy except in certain fortunate cases. One such case is reported.