To evaluate the possible rôle of antisperm antibodies in varicocele-associated infertility, we searched for antispermatozoal antibodies in serum and seminal plasma of 20 infertile men with varicocele, 20 infertile patients without palpable varicocele and 12 normal fertile husbands, with the use of radiolabelled antiglobulin test. Our study showed that 17 patients (85%) of varicocele group demonstrated antispermatozoal antibodies in their seminal plasma compared to only 3 patients (15%) of the non-varicocele infertile group.
As regards serum, 16 patients (80%) of varicocele group showed antispermatozoal antibodies compared with 5 patients (25%) of non-varicocele infertile group. Asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia were more prevalent in varicocele patients. These data suggest that an immunological factor may play a rôle in varicocele-associated infertility.