Spontaneous Abortion and Aging of Human Ova and Spermatozoa

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that aging of human gametes within the genital tract increases the chance of abortion, we measured the probabilities of abortion after insemination on a given day of the menstrual cycle in relation to the day of the shift in the basal body temperature in 965 patients. Cases came from family-planning and sterility clinics where basal body temperature and coital records are kept routinely. The probability of abortion diminished significantly (P < 0.001) as the shift in temperature was approached and then increased to its highest point (24 per cent) three days later.