A survey of antisperm antibodies and association with infertility amongst men in Benin city, Nigeria

Immunological infertility induced by antisperm antibodies (ASA) may interfere with fertilization or decrease the chances of pregnancy occurring. This study was conceived to determine the prevalence of ASA in the serum in infertile men and women and their relationship to semen quality. The study involved 209 infertile men, 212 infertile women and 114 fertile men and 118 fertile women as control. Sera were examined by the indirect spermmixed antiglobulin test (MAR )test and micro – titer tray agglutination test (TAT). Semen parameters were determined by standard techniques and ASA in semen was evaluated with direct mixed antiglobulin test. ASA were detected at clinically significant titres (>32) in the sera of 5/209 (2.4%) and 23/212 (10.8%) infertile men and women respectively. The concentration and progressive motility of spermatozoa from infertile men with ASA declined significantly (P < 0.0001) with altered distribution of white blood cells populations. It is concluded that ASA when present in the serum may adversely affect the quality of semen vis-a-vis fertilization and are associated with asthenosoozspermia and or oligospermia and altered distribution of white cell populations which represent important markers of immunologically induced infertility.