Relationship between circulating antisperm antibodies in women and autoantibodies on the ejaculated sperm of their partners.

The relationship between antibodies on the surface of ejaculated sperm and circulating antibodies in female partners was evaluated. Of 616 couples examined by the immunobead binding test, there was a 12.4% incidence of sperm-surface antibodies in men whose wives had antisperm antibodies in their sera, but only a 6.5% incidence in partners of women who lacked these antibodies (p less than 0.025). Sperm-bound immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A both occurred at a significantly higher frequency (p less than 0.05) in partners of women with serum antisperm antibodies. Increased incidence of both immunoglobulin G (p less than 0.01) and immunoglobulin M (p less than 0.005) circulating antisperm antibodies in females were observed when the male partners had antibody-bound sperm. Antibody-coated sperm may activate lymphocytes in the female partners after coitus, thus leading to the production of antisperm antibodies. This may be an additional mechanism that leads to female isoimmunity to sperm and infertility.