In-vitro fertilization results from thirteen women with anti-sperm antibodies

Thirteen infertile women with high titres of spermagglutinating antibodies in their serum and/or in cervical mucus underwent in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET). Fertilization occurred in 68% of the oocytes in a serum-free medium. Eight pregnancies were obtained in 22 IVF cycles (36.4%). Anti-sperm antibodies were found in the follicular fluids of 5 out of the 11 women with circulating antibodies. Fertilization results were independent of both the localization and the level of anti-sperm antibodies. From these data we can conclude that IVF-ET is a suitable treatment for long lasting female infertility linked to anti-sperm immunity.