PROBLEM: The effects of sperm immobilizing antibodies in the sera of infertile women on fertilization and embryo quality in vitro were investigated. METHOD OF STUDY: Before the introduction of sperm immobilization test (SIT) as a routine test for female infertility, 85 oocytes were collected in nine in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles from four infertile women who were afterward found having had sperm immobilizing antibodies in their sera and the oocytes were inseminated with swim-up sperm in a medium containing the patient's serum. Fifty oocytes were collected in five IVF cycles from five infertile women possessing the antibodies in their sera and the oocytes were inseminated with swim-up sperm in a medium supplemented with human serum albumin (HSA). RESULTS: In the former group, 41 of 85 oocytes were fertilized, giving a fertilization rate of 48.2%. In the latter group, 43 of 50 oocytes were fertilized, giving a fertilization rate of 86.0%. There was a significant difference of the fertilization rate between the groups (P < 0.0001). Embryo quality was assessed by the Veeck's classification. The grade 1 and grade 2 embryos were considered good quality. Using this classification, 16 (39.0%) of 41 embryos incubated in the medium containing the patient's serum were good quality, while 34 (79.1%) of 43 embryos incubated in the medium supplemented with HSA were good quality. There was also a significant difference between the groups (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: These findings might indicate that sperm immobilizing antibodies in the sera of infertile women cause low fertilization rates and poor embryo quality in vitro. It is suggested that SIT in the sera of infertile women should be performed at least before proceeding IVF. The manipulation of gametes and embryos from patients having sperm immobilizing antibodies should be carefully carried out especially to avoid contaminating patient's serum and follicular fluid in the culture medium in order to have a better IVF result.
PROBLEM: The effects of sperm immobilizing antibodies in the sera of infertile women on fertilization and embryo quality in vitro were investigated. METHOD OF STUDY: Before the introduction of sperm immobilization test (SIT) as a routine test for female infertility, 85 oocytes were collected in nine in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles from four infertile women who were afterward found having had sperm immobilizing antibodies in their sera and the oocytes were inseminated with swim-up sperm in a medium containing the patient's serum. Fifty oocytes were collected in five IVF cycles from five infertile women possessing the antibodies in their sera and the oocytes were inseminated with swim-up sperm in a medium supplemented with humanserum albumin (HSA). RESULTS: In the former group, 41 of 85 oocytes were fertilized, giving a fertilization rate of 48.2%. In the latter group, 43 of 50 oocytes were fertilized, giving a fertilization rate of 86.0%. There was a significant difference of the fertilization rate between the groups (P < 0.0001). Embryo quality was assessed by the Veeck's classification. The grade 1 and grade 2 embryos were considered good quality. Using this classification, 16 (39.0%) of 41 embryos incubated in the medium containing the patient's serum were good quality, while 34 (79.1%) of 43 embryos incubated in the medium supplemented with HSA were good quality. There was also a significant difference between the groups (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: These findings might indicate that sperm immobilizing antibodies in the sera of infertile women cause low fertilization rates and poor embryo quality in vitro. It is suggested that SIT in the sera of infertile women should be performed at least before proceeding IVF. The manipulation of gametes and embryos from patients having sperm immobilizing antibodies should be carefully carried out especially to avoid contaminating patient's serum and follicular fluid in the culture medium in order to have a better IVF result.