Failure of intrauterine insemination in male immunological infertility in cases in which all spermatozoa are antibody‐coated

Effect of Treating Antibody-Coated Sperm With Chymotrypsin on Pregnancy Rates Following Iui as Compared to Outcome of Ivf/Icsi

“…An extensive scan of the World's literature suggests that the present study is the first one attempted to refute or corroborate the study from 2000 [1]. Based on the data by Francavilla, the achievement of successful pregnancies following IUI with untreated sperm, of which 100% were coated with antisperm antibodies attached, would be very rare [4]. …”

“…Couples, where the male partner has 100% of his sperm coated with ASA, who normally would have an extremely poor success rate following conventional IUI [4] can decide, based on these data, which treatment option best suits their needs. These data thus confirm the outcome of a previous study where the pregnancy rate per IUI cycle with chymotrypsin sperm was 15% per cycle using a less impaired male group (requirement of ASA > 50%) [1].…”

“…Furthermore, when 100% of sperm have ASA attached, intrauterine insemination (IUI) completely failed to achieve pregnancies [4]. A previous prospective study found that treating naturally antibody-coated sperm with the protein digestive enzyme chymotrypsin prior to IUI significantly improved the pregnancy rates compared to sperm ejaculated into Earle's balanced salt solution medium containing 5% albumin [1].…”

Effects of Sperm Treatment on the Anti-sperm Antibodies IgG and IgA

“…Furthermore, when 100% of sperm have ASA attached, intrauterine insemination (IUI) completely failed to achieve pregnancies. In regard of antibodies class, it is assumed that the only presence of IgG fixed on the spermatozoa is better prognosis than the presence of IgA isolated or not [19]. In fact, the IgA would impede the penetration of cervical mucus.…”

Blood-Tissue Barriers in the Male Reproductive Tract of the Dog: A Morphological Study Using Lanthanum Nitrate as an Electron-Opaque Tracer

“…Thus, contact between immune cells and spermatozoa must be avoided not only in the testis but all along the excurrent ducts as well. It is, therefore, surprising that although the impact of impaired epididymal integrity on autoimmune processes and infertility has been widely recognized [Cropp and Schlaff, 1990;Francavilla et al, 1992;, very little attention has been paid to the presence and morphological equivalent of a blood-epididymis barrier so far.…”