The effect of antisperm antibodies measured by direct mixed agglutination reaction on in vitro fertilization rate

Background: Although in vitro fertilization (IVF) has been found to bypass the inhibitory effect of high levels of antisperm antibodies on sperm motility, fertilization rates are reduced in approximately 40% of the attempts. In this study, we investigated the relationship between antisperm antibodies measured by the direct mixed agglutination reaction (MAR) and the fertilization rate in infertile couples undergoing IVF. Materials and methods: Semen samples were obtained from men from 80 infertile couples undergoing IVF at the Esfahan Fertility and Infertility Center. After IVF, 52 couples had a high fertilization rate (65%) and 28 couples had a low fertilization rate (35%). The percentage of IgA and IgG antisperm antibodies were detected by a direct MAR test of the semen samples. A statistical anylysis was conducted using the T, X2 test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the mean of the percentage of antisperm antibodies in high and low fertilization rate groups (P<0.001). Statistically significant inverse relationships were observed between IgA and IgG antisperm antibodies levels and fertilization rates. Conclusions: The results of this study clearly show that high levels of antisperm antibodies decrease the fertilization rate. Therefore, it can be suggested that couples with high levels of antisperm antibodies should become candidate for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.