Spermagglutinating antibodies and sperm penetration of cervical mucus from infertile women with spermagglutinating antibodies in serum.
Spermagglutinins were demonstrated by the tray agglutination technique in cervical mucus collected during presumably-ovulatory cycles in 8 women among 21 patients with spermagglutinating antibodies in serum treated for infertility. A "poor" sperm penetration test was recorded exclusively in women with spermagglutinins in cervical mucus, and the results of the sperm-cervical mucus contact test were significantly correlated to the spermagglutinin titers in cervical mucus. The incidence of spermagglutinating antibodies in cervical mucus from infertile women was estimated to be 2.2% on the basis of the results in the present study. However, an inhibiting effect on sperm penetration in cervical mucus by spermagglutinins is expected to occur in less than 1% of women from infertile couples. A decrease in spermagglutinin titers in cervical mucus observed during estrogen medication was significantly associated with improved sperm penetration in vitro. The latter results may indicate a new approach to the treatment of infertility due to the presence of spermagglutinating antibodies in cervical mucus.
D000917:Antibody Formation; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003279:Contraceptives, Oral, Sequential / Q000494:pharmacology; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010060:Ovulation; D013073:Sperm Agglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects
D003279:Contraceptives, Oral, Sequential; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol