Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sperm Antibodies and Assisted Reproduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Immune Infertility

Abstract

The presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA) coating sperm can be a cause of infertility. However, their presence is not an invariable cause of infertility. This lack of consistency may be related to the percentage of sperm that are coated with the ASA or the concentration of ASA on each sperm. Also sometimes the explanation for achieving a pregnancy despite the presence of ASA may be related to the ASA directed against inert antigens. Based on studies showing very poor pregnancy rates following intrauterine insemination (IUI) of sperm where 100 % are coated with ASA, one can make a reasonable assumption that the majority of males with a high percentage of their sperm coated with ASA will be a factor causing a couple’s infertility. Another reasonable assumption is that the majority of ASA must effect the fertilization process as the negative effects of immobilizing ASA would be circumvented by IUI. One of the best treatment options for overcoming ASA is to perform in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Though conventional insemination of oocytes may be more effective than IUI, the ASA can sometimes lead to failure of sperm to bind to the zona pellucida leading to low fertilization rates. Unfortunately, IVF with ICSI is very expensive. A less expensive option is to try to neutralize the adverse effects of the ASA before IUI. There is evidence that this can be accomplished by treatment of the sperm prior to IUI with a protein digestive enzyme, e.g., chymotrypsin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Acosta AA, van der Merwe JP, Doncel G, Kruger TF, Sayilgan A, Franken DR, Kolm P (1994) Fertilization efficiency of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa in associated reproduction is further impaired by antisperm antibodies on the male partner’s sperm. Fertil Steril 62:826–833

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bandoh R, Yamano S, Kamada M, Daitoh T, Aono T (1992) Effect of sperm-immobilizing antibodies on the acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa. Fertil Steril 57:387–392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bollendorf A, Check JH, Katsoff D, Fedele A (1994) The use of chymotrypsin-galactose to treat spermatozoa bound with antisperm antibodies prior to intrauterine insemination. Hum Reprod 9:484–488

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bozhedomov VA, Nikolaeva MA, Ushakova IV, Lipatova NA, Bozhedomova GE, Sukhikh GT (2015) Functional deficit of sperm and fertility impairment in men with antisperm antibodies. J Reprod Immunol. 112:95–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2015.08.002

  5. Chang TH, Jih MH, Wu TC (1993) Relationship of sperm antibodies in women and men to human in vitro fertilization, cleavage, and pregnancy rate. Am J Reprod Immunol 30:108–112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Check JH (1991) Letter to the editor. Re: the importance of the post-coital test. Am J Ob Gyn 164:932–933

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Check JH (2006) Diagnosis and treatment of cervical mucus abnormalities. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 33:140–142

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Check JH (2015) A practical approach to diagnosing and treating infertility by the generalist in obstetrics and gynecology. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 42:405–410

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Check JH, Bollendorf A (1992) The effect of antisperm antibodies on post-coital results and the effect of intrauterine insemination on pregnancy outcome. Arch Androl 28:25–31

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Check JH, Bollendorf A, Katsoff D, Kozak J (1994) The frequency of antisperm antibodies in the cervical mucus of women with poor post-coital tests and their effect on pregnancy rates. Am J Reprod Immunol 32:38–42

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Check JH, Bollendorf A, Wilson C (2016) Failed fertilization with conventional oocyte insemination can be overcome with the ability of ICSI according to binding or failing to bind to the zona pellucida. Clin Exp Obst Gyn 43:186–188

    Google Scholar 

  12. Check JH, Bollendorf A, Wilson C, Summers-Chase D, Horwath D, Yuan W (2007) A retrospective comparison of pregnancy outcome following conventional oocyte insemination vs. intracytoplasmic sperm injection for isolated abnormalities in sperm morphology using strict criteria. J Androl 28:607–612

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Check JH, Dix E, Bollendorf A, Check D (2010) Fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection using sperm with subnormal morphology using strict criteria results in lower live delivered pregnancy rates following frozen embryo transfer than eggs fertilized conventionally. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 37:17–18

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Check JH, Hourani W, Check ML, Graziano V, Levin E (2004) Effect of treating antibody-coated sperm with chymotrypsin on pregnancy rates following IUI as compared to outcome of IVF/ICSI. Arch Androl 50:93–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Check JH, Katsoff B, Summers-Chase D, Yuan W, Horwath D, Choe JK (2009) Pregnancy rates per embryo transfer (ET) may be improved by conventional oocyte insemination for male factor rather than intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 36:212–213

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Check JH, Liss J, Bollendorf A (2013) Intrauterine insemination (IUI) does not improve pregnancy rates in infertile couples where semen parameters are normal and postcoital tests are adequate. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 40:33–34

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Check JH, Summers-Chase D, Cohen R, Brasile D (2010) Artificial oocyte activation with calcium ionophore allowed fertilization and pregnancy in a couple with long term unexplained infertility where the female partner had diminished egg reserve and failure to fertilize oocytes despite intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 37:263–265

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Check ML, Check JH, Katsoff D, Summers-Chase D (2000) ICSI as an effective therapy for male factor with antisperm antibodies. Arch Androl 45:125–130

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Clarke GN (1988) Immunoglobulin class and regional specificity of antispermatozoal autoantibodies blocking cervical mucus penetration by human spermatozoa. Am J Reprod Immunol Microbiol 16:135–138

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Clarke GN, Bourne M, Baker HW (1997) Intracytoplasmic sperm injection for treating infertility associated with sperm autoimmunity. Fertil Steril 68:112–117

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. de Almeida M, Gazagne I, Jeulin C, Herry M, Belaisch-Allart J et al (1989) In-vitro processing of sperm with autoantibodies and in vitro fertilization results. Hum Reprod 4:49–53

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Eggert-Kruse W, Hofsab A, Haury E, Tilgen W, Gerhard I, Runnebaum B (1991) Relationship between local anti-sperm antibodies and sperm-mucus interaction in vitro and in vivo. Hum Reprod 6:267–276

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Fann CH, Lee CY (1992) Monoclonal antibodies affecting sperm-zona binding and/or zona-induced acrosome reaction. J Reprod Immunol 21:175–187

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Francavilla F, Barbonetti A (2009) Male autoimmune infertility. In: Krause WK, Naz RK (eds) Immune infertility. The impact of immune reaction on human infertility. Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp 145–153

    Google Scholar 

  25. Francavilla F, Romano R, Santucci R, Marrone V, Corrao G (1992) Failure of intrauterine insemination in male immunological infertility in cases in which all spermatozoa are antibody-coated. Fertil Steril 58:587–592

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Inoue N, Ikawa M, Isotani A, Okabe M (2005) The immunoglobulin superfamily protein Izumo is required for sperm to fuse with eggs. Nature 434:234–238

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Junk SM, Matson PL, Yovich JM (1986) The fertilization of human oocyte by spermatozoa from men with antispermatozoal antibodies in semen. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf 3:350–352

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kadam AL, Fateh M, Naz RK (1995) Fertilization antigen (FA-1) completely blocks human sperm binding to human zona pellucida: FA-1 antigen may be a sperm receptor for zona pellucida in humans. J Reprod Immunol 29:19–30

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Katsoff D, Check JH, Bollendorf A, Benfer K (1995) Chymotrypsin-galactose treatment of sperm with antisperm antibodies results in improved pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization. Am J Reprod Immunol 33:149–154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Krause W (2009) Sperm function influenced by immune reaction. In: Krause WK, Naz RK (eds) Immune fertility. The impact of immune reaction on human infertility. Springer, Dordrecht/New York, pp 49–65

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lahteenmaki A (1993) In vitro fertilization in the presence of antisperm antibodies detected by the mixed antiglobulin reaction MAR, and the tray agglutination test, TAT. Hum Reprod 8:84–88

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lahteenmaki A, Reima I, Hovatta O (1995) Treatment of severe male immunological infertility by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Hum Reprod 10:2824–2828

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Leushuis E, van der Steeg JW, Steures P, Repping S, Schols W, van der Veen F, Mol BWJ, Hompes PGA (2009) Immunoglobulin G antisperm antibodies and prediction of spontaneous pregnancy. Fertil Steril 92:1659–1665

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Mahony MC, Blackmore PF, Bronson RA, Alexander NJ (1991) Inhibition of human sperm-zona pellucida tight binding in the presence of antisperm antibody positive polyclonal patient sera. J Reprod Immunol 19:287–301

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Mandelbaum SL, Diamond MP, DeCherney AH (1987) Relationship of antisperm antibodies to oocyte fertilization in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 47:644–651

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Menge AC, Beitner O (1989) Interrelationships among semen characteristics, antisperm antibodies and cervical mucus penetration assays in infertile human couples. Fertil Steril 51:486–492

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Nagy ZP, Verheyen G, Liu J et al (1995) Results of 55 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in the treatment of male-immunological infertility. Hum Reprod 10:1775–1780

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Naz RK (1987) The fertilization antigen (FA-1) causes a reduction of fertility in actively immunized female rabbits. J Reprod Immunol 11:117–133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Naz RK, Zhu X (2002) Molecular cloning and sequencing of cDNA encoding for human FA-1 antigen. Mol Reprod Dev 63:256–268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Naz RK, Zhu X, Kadam AL (2000) Identification of human sperm peptide sequence involved in egg binding for immunocontraception. Biol Reprod 62:318–324

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Pinto J, Check JH (2008) Correction of failed fertilization despite intracytoplasmic sperm injection with oligoastheno-terato-zoospermia but with acrosomes present by oocyte activation with calcium ionophore – case report. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 35:252–254

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2015) Diagnostic evaluation of the infertile female: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril 103:e44–e50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Rajah SV, Parslow J, Howell RJ, Hendry WF (1993) The effects on in vitro fertilization of autoantibodies to spermatozoa in subfertile men. Hum Reprod 8:1079–1082

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Sukcharoen N, Keith J (1995) The effect of the antisperm auto-antibody-bound sperm on in vitro fertilization outcome. Andrologia 27:281–289

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Tasdemir I, Tasdemir M, Fakuda J, Kodama H, Matsui T, Tanaka T (1995) Effect of sperm-immobilizing antibodies on the spontaneous and calcium-ionophore (A23187) induced acrosome reaction. Int J Fertil 40:192–195

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Vazquez-Levin MH, Martin-Briggiler CI, Veaute C (2014) Antisperm antibodies: invaluable tools toward the identification of sperm proteins involved in fertilization. Am J Reprod Immunol 72:206–218

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Vujisic S, Lepej SZ, Jerovic L, Emedi I, Sokolic B (2005) Antisperm antibodies in semen, sera and follicular fluids of infertile patients: relation to reproductive outcome after in vitro fertilization. Am J Reprod Immunol 54:13–20

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Zouari R, De Almeida M (1993) Effect of sperm associated antibodies on human sperm ability to bind to zona pellucida and to penetrate zonasfree hamster oocytes. J Reprod Immunol 24:175–186

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA

    Jerome H. Check MD, PhD & Jasmine Aly

  2. Cooper Institute for Reproductive Hormone Disorders, P.C., Mt. Laurel, NJ, USA

    Jerome H. Check MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Jerome H. Check MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jasmine Aly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jerome H. Check MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital, Philipp University, Marburg, Germany

    Walter K.H. Krause

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, West Virgina University, Morgantown, USA

    Rajesh K. Naz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Check, J.H., Aly, J. (2017). Sperm Antibodies and Assisted Reproduction. In: Krause, W., Naz, R. (eds) Immune Infertility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40788-3_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40788-3_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40786-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40788-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation