Premium
Reversal of Vasectomy: the Effects of Sperm Antibodies on Subsequent Fertility
Author(s) -
ROYLE M. G.,
PARSLO J. M.,
KINGSCOTT W. M. M. B.,
WALLACE D. M. A.,
HENDRY W. F.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1981.tb03284.x
Subject(s) - vasectomy , antibody , sperm , fertility , medicine , vasovasostomy , pregnancy , gynecology , andrology , vasectomy reversal , titer , semen , obstetrics , family planning , population , immunology , research methodology , biology , environmental health , genetics
Summary— Antisperm antibodies were measured in serum and seminal plasma in 1 30 males before and after vasectomy reversal and the occurrence of pregnancy was analysed in the partners of 77 who were followed for more than one year. Sperm‐agglutinating antibodies were found in the serum of 79% of patients; seminal plasma antibodies were present in only 9.5% before reversal and this rose to 26% afterwards. Pregnancies occurred in the partners of 53% of those men who were trying to produce children. A pregnancy was significantly less likely when the pre‐operative serum antisperm antibody titre was 51 2 or more, but no decrease in fertility was seen with titres below this. Several pregnancies were produced by patients with seminal plasma antibodies, but numbers and follow‐up are too small to permit detailed analysis. A randomized controlled trial of per‐operative steroids showed that they produced no benefit. The antis perm antibodies associated with vasectomy reversal appear to differ fundamentally from those occurring in naturally sub fertile males.