title: Evaluation of the antisperm antibodies in infertile couples afflicted with a cervical factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods used for antisperm antibodies detection in infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The studied cohort comprised 38 infertile couples with a distinct cervical factor. Presence of antisperm antibodies and their levels in circulation were evaluated in sera samples of both partners and also in the cervical mucus and semen with the Latex Agglutination test. Western Blotting was applied as an additional method in antibody detection. We also assessed: the number of sexual partners, potentially allergizing sexual behaviour and other potentially sensitising factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive antisperm antibodies were detected merely twice and only in one case there was evidence of insemination-impeding antisperm humoral response. The Western Blotting method enabled us to obtain a reaction to a range of sperm proteins which reacted with antibodies both in serum and in seminal plasma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of infertility on immunological grounds on the basis of a single determinant on sperm presents little diagnostic value. In our view, the combination of patient's clinical status with immune-system response to a spectrum of sperm antigens provides means of infertility evaluation. We propose Western Blotting as an useful technique for detection of antisperm antibodies.
authors: II Kliniki Połoznictwa i Ginekologii Instytutu Połoznictwa i Chorób Kobiecych AM w Gdańsku.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Rogoza
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Łukaszuk
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Mielcarek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies