Correlation of circulating antisperm antibodies to functional success in vasovasostomy

The serum of 45 men with sperm in the ejaculate post-vasovasostomy was tested for antisperm antibodies. Agglutinating antibodies were found in 48 per cent of the men whose partners became pregnant and in 94 per cent of those whose partners did not become pregnant (p less than 0.01). No such correlation was found for sperm immobilizing antibodies. Spontaneous in vivo autoagglutination was not demonstrated in any of the patients. Although functional failure seems likely to be associated with an immunologic event neither sperm agglutination nor sperm immobilization seems to be the mechanism of that event.