Immunofluorescent antibodies against spermatozoa in infertile couples.

Immunofluorescent sperm antibody tests were carried out on the serum seminal plasma and cervical mucus of 30 women and 24 of their partners with sperm-cervical mucus hostility. Control subjects consisted of 30 women and 23 of their partners whose infertility was due to a well-identified cause and 16 men and 51 women of recent proven fertility. There appears to be no difference in prevalence of serum antibodies between fertile and infertile patients although significant differences are noted in seminal plasma and cervical mucus. Positive immunofluorescent sperm antibodies were found in 6% of male and 20% of females who were infertile and 0% of male and 1% of females who were fertile. It appears that little etiological significance can be attached to positive serum immunofluorescent sperm antibodies in the infertile couple although seminal plasma and cervical mucus deserve further study.