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Immunological Aspects of Female Infertility
Author(s) -
Jones W. R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1973.tb02314.x
Subject(s) - sperm , infertility , gynecology , andrology , fertility , pregnancy , medicine , pregnancy rate , antibody , abortion , unexplained infertility , male infertility , obstetrics , biology , immunology , population , genetics , environmental health
Summary: Results in 377 couples indicate that the sperm immobilization test provides a reliable means of detecting significant humoral anti‐sperm activity in infertile patients. Occlusion therapy in patients with sperm antibodies has proved disappointing when compared with the natural reproductive pattern in untreated patients. A continuing prospective study indicates a lower subsequent fertility rate, and a markedly higher abortion rate, in women with sperm antibodies compared with those without them. Notwithstanding this, patients with infertility of 3 or more years' duration achieved a subsequent pregnancy rate of 27%, even in the presence of sperm antibodies. The nature and significance of sperm iso‐immuniza‐tion requires much further elucidation.