CYCLIC PREDNISOLONE THERAPY FOR MALE-INFERTILITY ASSOCIATED WITH AUTOANTIBODIES TO SPERMATOZOA

Seventy-six subfertile men with significant titers of antisperm antibodies were treated with a new corticosteroid regimen consisting of prednisolone, 40 mg daily, rising to 80 mg daily if antibody titers did not fall, given from days 1 to 10 of the partner''s menstrual cycle, for up to nine cycles. Twenty-five (33%) of the partners became pregnant during a treatment cycle, more than twice the expected incidence without treatment. No serious complications occurred, although one half of the patients had transient minor side effects. This regimen appears to be encouraging and suitable for further assessment in a prospective controlled trial.