Effect of peritoneal washings from women with endometriosis on sperm velocity

In a prospective study the author measured the "before" and "after" effects of in vitro washing and capacitation on sperm characteristics in 25 normospermic men using a microcomputerized system for semen analysis. Each fresh semen sample was divided into aliquots and assigned to one of four groups: group I--untreated sperm; group II--sperm capacitated with Ham's F-10 medium enriched with 20% decomplemented human serum (HHS); group III--sperm capacitated with HHS to which had been added 10% peritoneal washings in 5% dextrose and lactated Ringer's injection obtained from women of proven fertility at the time of laparoscopic tubal ligation; and group IV--sperm capacitated with HHS to which had been added 10% peritoneal washings in D5RL obtained from women with endometriosis (American Fertility Society stages I and II) diagnosed at the time of diagnostic laparoscopy. Semen characteristics, including sperm velocity, percent motility and motility index, in group II were all significantly improved over those in group I. The addition of peritoneal washings to the capacitation medium (group III) did not further improve the indices except for percent motility, which was significantly increased over that in group II (P less than .01). The addition of peritoneal washings from women with proven endometriosis to the capacitation medium, however, had a marked and statistically significant (P less than .0001) detrimental effect. These results suggest that the adverse effect of endometriosis on fertility may be biochemically mediated.