Results of in vitro fertilization in women with antisperm antibodies in serum, cervical mucus, and follicular fluid.

This study was undertaken to investigate the presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA) in serum, cervical mucus, and follicular fluid (FF) of women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). IgG and IgA ASA directed mostly against sperm head were found at similar concentrations in serum, cervical mucus, and FF of 2 of 34 patients. Ninety-one percent fertilization and 100% cleavage rates, respectively, were observed in one of the two patients. No fertilization occurred in the second patient. In both women, in vitro sperm penetration tests revealed hostile mucus and repeated postcoital tests were poor. It is concluded that the sperm-cervical mucus penetration test and mucus ASA measurements are useful in establishing the diagnosis of immunological infertility.