Autosperm antibodies in treated, pregnant and non-pregnant immunologically infertile patients

Twenty-two immunologically infertile couples (male partners had proven autosperm antibodies-positive mixed antiglobulin reaction test [MAR] and direct immunobead test [d-IBT]) were treated with washed spermatozoa used either in the gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT) or artificial insemination (AIH) procedures. Sixteen of the 22 couples (72.2%) fell pregnant with an ongoing pregnancy rate of 54.5% (12/22). The pregnant and non-pregnant groups were compared with regards to the sperm antibodies detected on the spermatozoa (MAR, d-IBT and sperm cervical mucus contact [SCMC] test) and in the serum and seminal plasma of the male partners (tray agglutination test [TAT], indirect immunobead test [i-IBT], and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]). The semen parameters, motility, forward progression, count/ml and normal morphological forms were also compared. Statistical analysis showed no difference between the two groups (pregnant and non-pregnant) with regards to the antibody tests performed on semen, serum and seminal plasma. No difference was also seen between the semen parameters of the two groups. The washing of spermatozoa for the GIFT or AIH procedures may therefore be a successful method of treatment for immunologically infertile couples. The results also indicate no difference in the fertility prognosis for the two groups since antibody levels and semen quality were not different between the pregnant and nonpregnant group.