Relationship between antisperm antibodies, sperm movement, and semen quality.

The presence of antisperm antibodies might impair fertilization by affecting sperm function in different ways. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of antisperm antibodies and evaluate its impact on sperm movement, in normozoospermic and abnormal semen samples. Samples from 144 patients were classified as normozoospermic or abnormal, according to WHO guidelines and Kruger's strict criteria. Motilility was assessed by a computer-assisted system by placing a drop of semen in a Makler chamber. Antisperm antibodies were detected using the Mar Test and Immunobead tests to identify immunoglobulin location and isotype. Results showed no association between the presence of antisperm antibodies and semen quality. Antibody incidence was 15 and 9.5% for normozoospermic and abnormal semen samples, respectively. Motion analysis showed that, although sperm linearity was significantly reduced in abnormal patients with antibodies, the existence of an immune response did not affect the sperm pathway in most cases. This study suggests that sperm motion analysis would not be of great assistance in the screening of an immunological male fertility factor. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel