Antiovary antibodies, repeated attempts, and outcome of in vitro fertilization

To determine whether the microtrauma induced by repeated puncture of ovarian follicles could result in the production of autoantibodies in women submitted to in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Antiovarian antibodies were assayed in serum samples obtained from women engaged in IVF and in serum samples from healthy controls.

Blood samples were obtained after oocyte collection in the local hospital's IVF unit.

One hundred ten women undergoing IVF entered the study. Oocyte division, numbers of embryos, and pregnancy were recorded for each woman. Control samples were from 40 individuals with no sign of autoimmune disorder.

Antiovarian antibodies were assayed in indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using human ovary as antigen. Specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, and IgM were tested separately in an ELISA.

Antiovarian antibody levels were compared between patients and controls and correlated with the subsequent results of IVF.

Significantly higher levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM antiovarian antibodies were observed in the group of IVF women (P less than 0.001). IgM antiovarian antibodies correlated with a lower number of embryos (P less than 0.001) and IVF failure (P less than 0.05).

These data suggest that ovarian trauma may lead to the production of autoantibodies.