Immunity and male infertility

This article has attempted to review evidence which suggests that immune factors may be operative in a small but significant number of infertile men. Although our current understanding of the possible processes by which autosensitization to previously sequestered reproductive antigens occurs is incomplete, there are laboratory assays presently available that indicate, but do not prove, that immune factors may be contributing to the infertile state. Continued research is needed to develop new assays and materials (especially purified sperm antigens) which might enhance our knowledge of the underlying immunoreproductive changes. Until these are available the outline below might be considered when investigating a patient with infertility of suspected immune origin.