Immune factor and infertility

Infertility is a common problem seen in gynaecological practice. In a significant number of cases of infertility an immune factor may be operative. In our study of 200 cases, the presence of sperm antibodies was studied in sera of both males and females. The tests used were the gelatin and tube slide agglutination tests. In the infertile group with unexplained infertility (50 couples), 16% of males and 30% of females were positive by the gelatin agglutination test, and 18% of males and 30% of females were positive by the tube slide agglutination test. There was complete absence of positive test (by both methods) in male controls, but females had positive tests for antibodies by both methods in significant numbers.