PREGNANCY RATES IN PATIENTS TREATED FOR ANTI-SPERM ANTIBODIES WITH PREDNISONE

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (2) , 63-67
Abstract
Circulating antisperm antibodies are associated with decreased fertility in both men and women. Several recent reports suggest that corticosteroids suppress antibody levels and enhance fertility in such patients. Prednisone was given to 24 patients; 26 patients with antibodies were not so treated and served as controls. The treated group comprised 5 women and 19 men; the control group comprised 1 woman and 25 men who had equivalent levels of circulating antibodies. The drug, when given to men, did not cause changes in sperm count, motility or normal forms, but it did cause significant reductions in levels of circulating immobilizing (P .ltoreq. 0.039) and agglutinating (P .ltoreq. 0.001) antisperm antibodies in both sexes. Fourteen pregnancies occurred during the 4-mo. posttreatment study period. Significantly more pregnancies occurred in the treated group than in the control group (11 treated patients (45%) and 3 controls (12%); P .ltoreq. 0.025). Of the 5 treated women, 4 conceived.

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