Heterogeneity of antigenic determinants on human spermatozoa: Relevance to antisperm antibody testing in infertile couples

Etiology of sperm immunity in women

“…Observations of potential relevance to understanding the etiology of sperm immunity in women include evidence that they are more likely to have detectable sperm antibodies if their male partner also has sperm antibodies in his semen (20). Another interesting observation was that in about one-third of cases women apparently react only to their partner's sperm antigens rather than to sperm-specific antigens (21). Two main hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origins of female sperm immunity and the observed association between male and female sperm immunity in a proportion of couples.…”

Anti‐Sperm Antibodies from Infertile Patients and their Cognate Sperm Antigens: A Review. Identity Between SAGA‐1, the H6‐3C4 Antigen, and CD52

“…Various investigators reported the presence of unique antigens on infertile patient spermatozoa that are detected only by ASA from infertile patients. 32,46,55,60 These authors proposed that antigens specific to each couple caused the infertility. Preparations of normal spermatozoa were used in all but two of the studies cited.…”

Idiopathic Infertility: Survival and Function of Sperm in the Female Reproductive Tract

“…Therefore, high levels of these antibodies can effectively prevent fertilization. Witkins et al (1988) reported that in about 30 % of their cases, women seemed to react to their partner's sperm antigens, rather than to sperm-specific antigens [48] while Blum et al (1989) observed significant similarities between Chlamydia antibodies and sperm antibodies in young women [49]. It is also possible that, in addition to antibodies for sperm membrane antigens, antibodies can also be formed for some internal sperm components [50].…”