Estimation of Antisperm Antibodies in Females with Unexplained Infertility

Abstract

To asses Antisperm antibodies (ASA) levels in infertile and fertile females, and to look for patterns in the expression of Antisperm antibodies in serum and cervical mucus of these subjects. Selective study in females with unexplained infertility (n30) and fertile females (n=1O). Pattern of Antisperm antibody positivity in serum and cervical mucus was studied. Samples were collected from gynecological outdoor, Jinnah Hospital and Hamid Latif Hospital Lahore, from July 1999 to October 2000. Thirty females aged between 19-39 years, with no indication of hormonal or physical causes for their infertility and 10 age matched fertile females as control, were taken as subjects. Serum and cervical mucus samples of all these subjects were tested for ASA by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Antisperm antibodies were positive in 33.3% of infertile females, either in their serum or cervical mucus or in both, while in all the fertile control subjects were negative for these antibodies. ASA were positive in 23.3% of sera and 26.6% cervical mucus samples obtained from infertile females. Serum and cervical mucus both were positive for ASA in 16.6% of infertile females while 10% exhibited ASA in cervical mucus alone and 6.7% in serum alone. Statistically significant differences in levels of ASAs were obtained between infertile and fertile females. Also in many samples ASA levels ¡n Serum did not correlate with ASA levels in cervical mucus. This data emphasizes the importance of detecting ASA, in sera as well as in genital tract  secretions, for correct evaluation of sperm immunity.