不孕不育夫妇生殖道解脲支原体、沙眼衣原体感染及抗精子抗体、抗子宫内膜抗体关系探讨

目的探讨不孕不育夫妇生殖道解脲支原体（UU）、沙眼衣原体（CT）感染及抗精子抗体（AsAb）、抗子宫内膜抗体（EMAb）间的关系。方法采用PCR荧光定量法对120对不孕不育夫妇进行生殖道分泌物UU、CT检测,与对照组比较,同时采用酶联免疫法（ELISA）对不孕不育夫妇血清中AsAb和EMAb进行检测,分析比较感染组与未感染组AsAb和EMAb阳性率。结果120对不孕不育患夫妇中,男性：UU感染率为25．8％、CT感染率为24．2％,UU与CT混合感染率为10．0％,与对照组男性比较差异有统计学意义P〈0．05,女性：UU感染率为33．3％。CT感染率为26．7％,UU与CT混合感染率为11．7％,与对照组女性比较差异均有统计学意义P〈0．05。在不孕不育夫妇感染组中,AsAb阳性率为32．3％,与未感染组比较差异有高度显著性P〈0．01,EMAb阳性率为10．8％,与未感染组比较差异有统计学意义P〈0．05。结论生殖道UU、CT感染是造成不孕不育的原因之一,AsAb、EMAb的产生与生殖道UU、CT感染有关。     

自身抗体与不孕及自发性流产关系的探讨

目的检测抗心磷脂抗体(ACA)和抗精子抗体(AsAb)两种自身抗体在不孕及自发性流产患者中存在的情况,并观察应用阿司匹林治疗ACA阳性反复流产患者的临床效果。方法应用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测150例原发或继发不孕患者(不孕组)、198例自发性流产或有胚胎停育史患者(流产组)及40例正常对照组血清中的ACA及AsAb抗体。对其中53例ACA阳性反复流产患者在孕前一个月或孕早期采用低剂量阿司匹林治疗。结果不孕组及流产组ACA总阳性率分别为48.00%和50.51%,与对照组(7.50%)相比有非常显著性差异(P<0.001);不孕组及流产组AsAb阳性率分别为31.33%和25.25%,与对照组(10.00%)比较亦有显著性差异(P<0.05)。53例经治疗患者活产婴儿48例,妊娠成功率为90.57%。结论ACA和AsAb等自身抗体是导致不孕及自发性流产的免疫学因素之一,应用低剂量阿司匹林治疗ACA阳性反复流产患者是保证其妊娠成功的有效方法。     

反复自然流产与免疫学因素的相关性分析

为了探讨抗精子抗体（AsAb）、抗心磷脂抗体（ACA）和抗子宫内膜抗体（EMAb）在反复自然流产中所起的作用,我们检测了从2007年6月～2008年12月来我院优生优育门诊就诊的女性患者血清中AsAb、ACA和EMAb,并以正常育龄妇女作对照,现将结果报告如下。     

不育症男性精液抗精子抗体与支原体感染的相关性分析

目的探讨男性不育患者精液抗精子抗体（AsAb）与支原体感染之间的关系。方法对159例不育男性患者精液进行AsAb和解脲支原体（UU）检测。结果159例男性不育患者中,精液抗精子抗体阳性组支原体阳性检出率为68.97%,精液抗精子抗体阴性组支原体阳性检出率为43.06%,两组之间差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。结论男性免疫性不育AsAb的产生与UU感染有关。     

抗生殖抗体与习惯性流产关系的研究

目的 通过对原因不明的习惯性流产(HA)患者进行多项抗生殖抗体检查,研究HA与抗生殖抗体的关系。方法 149例原因不明的HA患者为流产组,60例健康孕妇为对照组,对两组人群同时采用金标免疫斑点法检测血清抗新磷脂抗体(ACA)、抗子宫内膜抗体(EMAb)和抗精子抗体(AsAb),用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清抗绒毛膜促性腺激素抗体(HCGAb)。结果 实验组ACA阳性率为18.12％,EMAb阳性率为32.31％,AsAb阳性率为28.18％,HCGAb阳性率为26.1％;对照组以上指标分别为5.00％,3.33％,5.00％和11.66％,即自身抗体阳性率实验组均明显高于对照组,P<0.05。结论 多数原因不明HA患者体内存在抗生殖抗体,其中ACA、EMAb、AsAb、HCGAb可能为HA原因之一。     

女性不孕与支原体、衣原体感染和抗精子抗体的相关性

目的研究支原体(ureaplasma urealyticum UU)、衣原体(chlamydia trachomatic CT)感染与抗精子抗体(antisperm antibodies ASAb)对女性不孕的影响.方法聚合酶链反应(PCR)法和ELISA法分别对128例原发性和195例继发性不孕患者的宫颈分泌物进行UU、CT和ASAb检测,同时选择健康已孕妇女96人作为对照组.结果不孕组UU、CT感染率、ASAb阳性率与对照组比均有显著性差异(P＜0.05);原发不孕组与继发不孕组UU、CT感染率、ASAb阳性率相比无显著性差异(P＞0.05);不孕组中UU、CT感染阳性患者ASAb阳性率明显高于UU、CT阴性患者(P＜0.01).结论女性生殖道UU、CT感染和ASAb与不孕有着密切的相关性,特别是继发性不孕患者尤为显著,且ASAb的产生与CT,UU感染有关.     

不育不孕夫妇5种免疫抗体检测结果的分析

目的:探讨不育夫妇中丈夫抗精子抗体(AsAb),妇女的抗精子抗体(AsAb)、抗子宫内膜抗体(EMAb)、抗心磷脂抗体(ACAAb),抗透明带抗体(AzPAb)、抗卵巢抗体(AoAb) 5种免疫抗体阳性发生率与不育不孕的关系(原发不育不孕未检测AHCG).方法:用酶联免疫吸附间接法(ELISA).结果:AsAb夫妇阳性率为22.19%,EMAb阳性率为11.42%,AoAb阳性率为10.44%,AHCG阳性率为11.26%,抗透明带抗体AzAb检出率为9.30%.结论:通过613对血清中5种免疫抗体的检测结果显示对原发、继发不孕患者的诊断分类和指导治疗具有重要的参考意义.     

抗精子抗体检测法在不育不孕症中的应用

抗精子抗体(AsAb)阳性引起的不孕、不育和自发性流产为自身免疫所致,占有一定的比例。我们采用酶联免疫法(EIA)检测了不孕、不育和自发性流产患者血清AsAb,探讨了AsAb阳性与影响生育之间的相互关系。1对象与方法1.1对象收集住院和门诊就医患者278例,均为结婚2年以上未孕、未育者,其中不育男性158例,经两次采集禁欲7 d的精液常规检查,结果属于正常范围。不孕女性85例,妇科     

女性慢性生殖道炎症与抗精子免疫的相关研究

目的 :研究生殖道慢性感染状态下抗精子免疫应答的机制 ,为防治抗精子免疫性不孕提供依据。方法 :①病例选择 :诊断为慢性宫颈炎或 和慢性盆腔炎 ,有正常性生活的妇女 5 0例。对照组为有正常性生活并排除急慢性生殖道炎症的妇女 10例 ;②观察指标 :宫颈粘液病原体检测 :包括细菌、真菌、解脲支原体 (UU)与人型支原体 (MH)培养 ,沙眼衣原体(CT) ;血清ASAb总Ig测定 (ELISA法 ) ;外周血淋巴细胞亚群 (红细胞花环法 ) ;宫颈粘液白细胞介素 2 (IL 2 )。结果 :①慢性生殖道炎症组血清抗精子抗体 (ASAb)水平显著高于对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;解脲支原体 (UU)或 和沙眼衣原体 (CT)感染与ASAb有高度相关性 (P <0 0 1) ;②慢性生殖道炎症并抗精子抗体阳性组的妇女CD8+ 细胞减少 ,CD4 + CD8+ 比值升高 ,而宫颈粘液中IL 2水平显著升高 ,与ASAb阴性患者及正常对照组比较均有显著差异 (P <0 0 1)。结论 :女性慢性生殖道炎症可导致体内体液免疫与细胞免疫异常 ,并诱导抗精子抗体的产生。     

自然流产的免疫学因素分析与探讨

目的为探讨自然流产与免疫学因素的关系.方法采用酶联免疫吸咐试验（ELISA）对612例自然流产妇女进行血清抗子宫内膜抗体（EMAb）、抗心磷脂抗体（ACA）、抗人绒毛膜促性腺激素抗体（HCGAb）测定.结果流产组132例HCGAb阳性,阳性率为21.5%;150例EMAb阳性,阳性率为24.5%;184例ACA阳性,阳性率为30.1%;63.2%的患者体内有两种以上抗体并存,与对照组比较,有高度显著性差异.结论抗心磷脂抗体、抗人绒毛膜促性腺激素抗体、抗子宫内膜抗体是造成自然流产的不可忽视的免疫学因素.     

The Presence of Antithyroid Antibodies in Euthyroid Patients With Unexplained Infertility and Tubal Obstruction

PROBLEM: The presence of antithyroid antibodies in euthyroid patients with unexplained infertility and tubal obstruction. METHOD: The presence of antithyroid autoantibodies (microsomal and thyroglobulin) was measured in 40 patients with unexplained infertility, and 40 patients with tubal obstruction infertility, and compared to 40 healthy nulligravidae. RESULTS: Eight patients (20%) in the unexplained infertility study group, seven (17.5%) in the tubal obstruction group and two (5%) in the healthy nulligravida group, were positive for antithyroid autoantibodies: five (12.5%) were positive for antimicrosomal antibodies, two (5%) were positive for antithyroglobulin antibodies, and one patient (2.5%) was positive for both. The tubal obstruction group comprised seven (17.5%) patients positive for antithyroid autoantibodies: four (10%) for antimicrosomal antibodies, two (5%) for antithyroglobulin antibodies, and one patient (2.5%) was positive for both. In the healthy nulligravidae group only two patients (5%) were positive for antithyroid antibodies: one for antimicrosomal and one for antithyroglobulin. No significant differences were found in the presence of antithyroid antibodies between patients with unexplained infertility and those with tubal obstruction infertility. Both groups differed significantly from the healthy controls with regard to the presence of antithyroid antibodies (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Subclinical presence of antithyroid autoantibodies is characteristic of both unexplained and mechanical infertility, as opposed to healthy controls. Further investigation of larger groups is needed to determine the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies in the unique population of infertile women.     

Autoantibodies and prediction of reproductive failure

PROBLEM: To determine which autoantibodies are associated with reproductive failure. METHOD OF STUDY: Sera from 269 patients with autoimmune disease and/or reproductive failure were analyzed for anti-phospholipid (aPL), anti-annexin-V, anti-lactoferrin, anti-thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxidase, anti-prothrombin, anti-nuclear, and anti-saccharomycetes cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA), by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were classified as: recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), infertility, and autoimmune diseases. The results were compared with those of 120 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: In autoimmune diseases, the prevalence of anti-prothrombin, anti-annexin, anti-phospholipid and anti-nuclear antibodies was significantly higher than in the control group, OR 11.0 [CI, 3.5-35.2], 33 [CI, 7.2-174.2], 13 [CI, 1.4-309.7], and 16.1 [CI 2.4-122], respectively. In infertility, the antibodies with significantly higher levels than controls were: aPL OR, 5.11 [CI 1.2-25.4], and anti-prothrombin antibodies, OR, 5.15 [CI, 2.1-12.7]. In RPL, ASCA, anti-prothrombin and aPL were more prevalent than in controls, OR 3.9 [CI, 1.5-10.6], 5.4 [CI, 2.4-12.5] and 4.8[CI, 1.2-22.2] for each antibody, respectively. Anti-prothrombin antibodies and aPL were more significantly associated with late pregnancy losses than early losses. CONCLUSION: ASCA antibodies have not previously been described in RPL. Nor are anti-prothrombin antibodies usually assessed in infertility or RPL. If these results are confirmed in further studies, these antibodies might be assessed routinely in reproductive failure.     

抗生殖免疫抗体与不明原因反复自然流产的关系

目的：为探讨抗生殖免疫抗体与不明原因反复自然流产的关系。方法：采用ELISA法检测52例不明原因反复自然流产(流产组)血清抗精子抗体(AsAb)、抗子宫内膜抗体(EmAb)、抗卵巢抗体(AovAb)、抗心磷脂抗体(AcAb)和抗绒毛膜促性腺激素抗体(AhcGAb)的含量。结果：流产组AsAb阳性26．92％,EmAb阳性42．30％,AovAb阳性30．76％,AcA阳性46．15％和AhcGAb阳性48．07％;流产组的各项抗生殖免疫抗体检出率均明显高于对照组。结论：以上5种抗生殖免疫抗体可干扰卵的发育成熟、排卵、受精、胚泡着床和胚胎发育等过程。抗生殖免疫抗体与不明原因反复自然流产关系十分密切。     

Association of Sperm Antibodies With Other Autoantibodies in Infertile Men

PROBLEM: In many autoimmune diseases there is an increased incidence of other autoantibodies. However, the incidence of other autoantibodies in patients with seminal sperm antibodies is unknown. The most widely used tests to detect seminal and serum sperm antibodies are the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) and the Tray agglutination test (TAT). METHOD: We therefore determined the incidence of antinuclear, antimitochondrial, thyroid peroxidase, and thyroglobulin antibodies, and rheumatoid factor in 147 patients investigated with MAR and 157 patients investigated with TAT. RESULTS: TAT positive patients had a significantly elevated incidence of antinuclear antibodies (χ² test, P < 0.005) and thyroglobulin antibodies (χ² test, P < 0.001). Thyroglobulin antibodies were increased in patients with MAR IgG > 40% and also significantly (χ² test, P < 0.05) increased in MAR IgA positive patients. Furthermore, thyroid peroxidase antibodies were only found in TAT positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The consistently increased incidence of thyroid autoantibodies in infertile patients with sperm antibodies may indicate an increased risk for the development of autoimmune thyroid disease. This finding therefore suggests screening of patients with immunologic infertility for autoimmune thyroid disease and a further evaluation of the prognostic and pathophysiologic significance of thyroid autoantibodies in immunologic infertility.     

Ovarian autoimmunity: greater frequency of autoantibodies in premature menopause and unexplained infertility than in the general population

The objective of this study was to: (1) assess the relative prevalence of ovarian, thyroid, nuclear, and cardiolipin antibodies associated with premature menopause and unexplained infertility and (2) compare ovarian and thyroid antibodies in premature menopause, unexplained infertility, and the general population. Autoantibodies were evaluated in women with premature menopause (n = 30), unexplained infertility with (n = 38) or without (n = 15) prior gonadotropin-induced ovulation, and normal cycling controls (n = 12) and in a population of women obtained from a blood bank (n = 53). Antibodies to ovary (OVAB), thyroid (THYAB; thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin), cardiolipin, and eight nuclear antigens were assessed by enzyme immunoassay. Organ-specific antibodies (ovary and thyroid) were present with significantly greater frequency than non-organ-specific antibodies (nuclear and cardiolipin) in premature menopause and unexplained infertility (60% (50/83) vs 16% (13/83) respectively; P < 0.0001). OVAB (53%, 44/83) were significantly more frequent than THYAB (30%, 25/83) in premature menopause and unexplained infertility (P = 0.0030). THYAB did not differ among all groups (P = 0.78). In premature menopause and treated or untreated unexplained infertility OVAB frequencies were 53, 61, and 33%, respectively, and were significantly more frequent than in the population (17%) (P = 0.0001). In unexplained infertility, individuals with no prior gonadotropin-induced ovulation had a lower frequency of OVAB than treated individuals (P = 0.07). The frequency distribution of optical density values for OVAB was significantly higher for premature menopause and unexplained infertility than for population or normal cycling women (P < 0.0001). Thus, only ovarian antibodies were significantly more frequent than other antibody markers of autoimmunity in premature menopause and unexplained infertility.     

Ten-Year Experience with Antispermatozoal Activity in Ovulatory Cervical Mucus and Local Hydrocortisone Treatment

PROBLEM: During 1987–1996, cervical mucus spermagglutinating antibodies of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) or IgG detected by the tray agglutination test (TAT) and the indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test were found in 234 women aged 23–39 years with previously unexplained infertility. METHOD OF STUDY: Hydrocortisone was applied to the ectocervix. RESULTS: Spermagglutinating antibodies of sIgA disappeared totally in 102 patients (91 resulting in deliveries of healthy babies, 3 in ectopic pregnancies, and 8 in spontaneous miscarriages). A decrease of spermagglutinating antibodies in ovulatory mucus during hydrocortisone application without pregnancy was registered in 60 infertile women. This group was referred to treatment by in vitro fertilization. No hydrocortisone effect on immunocompetent cells producing antispermatozoal IgG alone or combined with sIgA was seen in 72 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal mycosis, a side effect of hydrocortisone treatment, was seen in seven cases. Hydrocortisone for local immunosuppression becomes a valuable method of therapy in cervical immunologic infertility caused predominantly by antispermatozoal sIgA.     

Pregnancy: Antiphospholipid antibodies and human reproductive failure

Routine screening for circulating antiphospholipid antibodies(aPL), namely the lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipinantibodies (aCL), was carried out in a total of 1273 women aged<45 years. Of them, 822 were experimental subjects and 451were controls. The former comprised the following three studygroups: 498 infertile patients (group 1), 284 spontaneous recurrentaborters (group 2), and 40 patients with repeated failure ofembryo transfer (group 3). Controls included five groups ofwomen: 125 normal healthy women who had never been pregnant(group 4), 125 normal healthy parous women with no previousabortion (group 5), 52 women in labour after normal pregnanciesat term (group 6), 49 infertile patients achieving a livebirthwith their first in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer(group 7), and 100 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(positive controls, group 8). aPL positivity in the eight groupsstudied was as follows: 2.4, 9.2, 10, 0.8, 0, 0, 0 and 42% respectivelyfor groups 1 to 8. There were no differences within groups 1and 3 regarding incidence of aPL when patients were groupedaccording to infertility aetiological factors and indicationsfor IVF respectively. Twenty-six out of 284 recurrent aborters(9.2%) tested positive for aPL, and the LA and/or aCL were identifiedas the aetiological factor in 12% of patients (24/199) withsupposedly unexplained recurrent abortion. Incidence of positivesera for aPL in group 1 was similar to that observed in controlgroups 4, 5 and 6. On the contrary, incidence of aPL positivityin groups 2 and 3 was significantly higher than in control groups4, 5 and 6 and among infertile women (group 1). The differencebetween groups 3 and 7 almost reached statistical significance.Interestingly, there was no difference between groups 2 and3, but groups 2 and 7 resulted probably different regardingincidence of aPL positive sera. As expected, the highest incidenceof patients testing positive for aPL was found in group 8. Seveninfertile patients having circulating aPL and becoming pregnantspontaneously or after specific infertility treatment, successfullycarried to term in spite of the fact that they did not receiveimmunotherapy. Among recurrent aborters, the live-born babyrate was significantly higher after treatment with low-doseaspirin than prior therapy. It is concluded that the presenceof circulating aPL may be associated with recurrent abortionbut not with infertility. In addition, our results favour apossible role of aPL hi failure of implantation after IVF andembryo transfer.     

Autoantibody panel screening in recurrent miscarriages

PROBLEM: Antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL), antithyroid antibodies and anti-extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENA) have all been reported to be associated with recurrent miscarriages (RM) and infertility. However, this association remained controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight women with impaired fertility (38 women with RM and 20 women with infertility, but no miscarriages) and 28 control parous women were screened for seven autoantibodies [antithyroglobulin (aTG), antithyroid peroxidase (aTPO), anticardiolipin (aCL), antiphosphatidyl-serine (aPS), antiprothrombin antibodies (aPT), anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (abeta2GP1), and anti-ENA]. There was no evidence for autoimmune diseases in the patients or the control. The analysis was also performed with several panels of autoantibodies, each of which contained two or more autoantibodies. RESULTS: Anti-TPO was the only antibody to be associated with RM (P = 0.01). A significant association was found between RM, and autoantibodies in the 'aTG + aTPO + anti-ENA' or 'aTG + aTPO' panels. The 'aTG + aTPO + anti-ENA' panel was also associated with RM when the analysis was performed only on 17 women who had secondary infertility: 10 from the 38 women with RM, and seven from the 20 women with infertility and no miscarriages. A significant association (P < 0.001) was also apparent between anti-CL and anti-PS and infertility compared with the 28 control women. CONCLUSIONS: RM was associated with autoantibodies to aTPO and the combined panel of aTPO, aTG and anti-ENA, but not with aPL. aPL were associated with infertility.     

Anti-sperm antibodies from infertile patients and their cognate sperm antigens: a review. Identity between SAGA-1, the H6-3C4 antigen, and CD52

PROBLEM: The correlation of anti-sperm antibodies (ASA) with some instances of unexplained infertility implicates a role for these antibodies in blocking fertilization. Improved diagnosis and treatment of immunologic infertility, as well as a more complete understanding of the mechanism behind this phenomenon, are dependent on the identification and characterization of relevant sperm antigens. METHOD OF STUDY: In this article, we review literature on methods employed to identify sperm antigens using anti-sperm polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies from infertile patients and vasectomized men. Particular focus is given to approaches using human and mouse monoclonal antibodies to define the SAGA-1 human sperm antigen. RESULTS: ASA present in sera and genital tract secretions from infertile patients and vasectomized men have been employed in a variety of methods to identify sperm antigens. In an alternate approach, a monoclonal antibody (mAb), H6-3C4, was immortalized from the lymphocytes of an infertile woman who exhibited sperm-immobilizing titers. Subsequently, the sperm-agglutinating, murine S19 mAb was shown to react with the H6-3C4 cognate antigen. The H6-3C4 S19 cognate antigen, designated Sperm Agglutination Antigen-1 (SAGA-1), was characterized as a polymorphic, highly acidic, GPI-anchored glycoprotein on the surface of human spermatozoa. Purification with the S19 mAb followed by microsequencing demonstrated that the SAGA-1 core peptide is identical to CD52, a glycoprotein on the surface of human lymphocytes. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that these two glycoproteins differed in carbohydrate composition. Thus, sperm SAGA-1 and lymphocyte CD52 represent glycoforms, glycoproteins with the same core peptide but with different carbohydrate structures. CONCLUSIONS: Autoimmunity to the SAGA-1 and/or CD52 glycoforms may lead to infertility. Structural and immunologic differences between these glycoproteins may be important factors in the etiology of immunologic infertility and other autoimmune disorders.     

Decreased amounts of antibodies to 22 and 18 kDa antigens in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis

Accumulated evidence implicates immunological alterations inendometriosis. The purpose of this study was to look for variationsin antibodies to distinct antigens in peritoneal fluid of womenwith and without endometriosis. Peritoneal fluid was aspiratedfrom 17 women undergoing laparoscopy for tubal ligation and37 patients complaining of symptoms of pain and/or infertility.Peritoneal fluid antibodies to a standard preparation of peritonealfluid antigens were detected by Western blot analysis usingperoxidase-labelled anti-human immunoglobulin G antibodies specificto the Fc region. Antibodies to distinct antigens were quantifiedby estimating the ratio of the relative optical density betweensamples and a standard amount of antibodies. Marked changeswere found in the antibody detection to two antigens havingapparent molecular weights of 22 and 18 kDa. The intensity ofthe antibody signal was significantly weaker in the peritonealfluid from endometriosis patients (0.36 ± 0.06 and 0.46± 0.06) compared with that in women without endometriosis(0.62 ± 0.08 and 0.75 ± 0.06). It was also weakerin patients without endometriosis presenting with infertility(036 ± 0.07 and 0.47 ± 0.08), but only the 18kDa antigen result was significant After adjusting for infertility,the P values for the 18 and 22 kDa bands were 0.03 and 0.28(not significant) respectively in the group of endometriosispatients. These changes were not related to the phase of themenstrual cycle. These data suggest an alteration in the immuneresponse to two distinct antigens in the peritoneal fluid fromwomen with endometriosis and infertility. Further evaluationof these two antigens and their antibodies would be of interestto help understand endometriosis and its associated infertility.