Sperm-agglutinating antibodies and decreased fertility in prostitutes

Forty-eight prostitutes were studied for the presence of sperm-agglutinating antibodies. Thirty-five, or 72.7%, were positive. A control group of 25 unmarried women had a 20% incidence of reactions. The specificity of the microagglutination test is discussed. No false positive reactions have occurred from pH, dilution effects, or washing technics used in our procedure. The test reaction is related to seminal plasma-coating antigen. Prostitutes have a poor reproductive history and a high incidence of abortion. Our data suggest a relationship between circulating antibody titers and decreased fertility, but no relationship to increased abortion rate. Tissue-fixed antibodies are demonstrated in cervical and endometrial tissue of 5 prostitutes with circulating antibody titer. The significance of this finding is discussed.