Endometriosis affects sperm–endosalpingeal interactions

L Reeve, Louise Reeve, Reeve L, H Lashen, Hany Lashen, A A Pacey, Allan Pacey
Human Reproduction · 2004 · vol. 20(2) , pp. 448–451 · doi:10.1093/humrep/deh606 · PMID:15550494 · W2104614477
article OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 28 in-corpus citations
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Women with endometriosis showed significantly more sperm binding to their uterine tube epithelium compared to controls, suggesting a disruption that may contribute to infertility.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The interaction between spermatozoa and the epithelium of the isthmic region of the uterine tube is thought to be an important part of the mechanisms of sperm transport to the site of fertilization and in preparing them for fertilization. However, it is unclear whether a dysfunction of this mechanism may contribute to subfertility in some individuals. METHODS: The sperm-binding characteristics of the epithelium from the uterine tubes of three groups of women were examined: (i) eight with pelvic endometriosis (not involving the uterine tubes); (ii) five women who had been receiving zoladex injections to control their symptoms; and (iii) as controls 10 women undergoing an elective procedure for benign gynaecological problems but with no other pathology of the reproductive tract. RESULTS: Significantly more spermatozoa bound per unit area to the ampullary epithelium of the uterine tubes taken from women with a previous diagnosis of endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the characteristics of sperm binding to tubal epithelium may be disrupted in women with a gynaecological pathology such as endometriosis. It is suggested that this may have the potential to interfere with the availability of freely motile spermatozoa, of the appropriate physiological status, to take part in fertilization. This may be a newly described mechanism by which endometriosis can cause infertility.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Fallopian Tubes Infertility, Female Spermatozoa Cell Adhesion Endometriosis Epithelial Cells Epithelial Cells Epithelial Cells Fallopian Tubes Fallopian Tubes Female Humans Infertility, Female In Vitro Techniques Male Spermatozoa Spermatozoa Sperm Motility

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References (34)

Cited by (28)

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