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Le test post coïtal à l’heure de l’AMP

Value of the post-coital test in the age of assisted reproductive technologies

Résumé

Ces dernières années, le développement considérable des techniques d’assistance médicale à la procréation (AMP) a modifié la prise en charge des couples infertiles, tant dans les possibilités thérapeutiques disponibles que dans l’évaluation diagnostique. Face aux taux de succès obtenus, la pratique des tests conventionnels est fréquemment mise en cause et notamment le test post coïtal (ou test de Hühner), qui fait l’objet d’opinions divergentes. Dans ce contexte, le but de cet article est de réévaluer l’intérêt du test post coïtal et de préciser son influence éventuelle dans la stratégie de prise en charge en Assistance Médicale à la Procréation des couples infertiles. Certaines situations clinico-biologiques justifient la pratique du test dans cette perspective de prise en charge, notamment pour diagnostiquer une infertilité d’origine cervicale, explorer une infertilité inexpliquée et mettre en évidence une pathologie du mouvement des spermatozoïdes

Abstract

The recent development of assisted reproductive technologies has greatly modified treatment and evaluation of infertility. In view of the high pregnancy rates obtained, the value of conventional diagnostic tests, especially the post-coital test, has become controversial.

Apart from differences in terms of standardization, the confusion concerning the diagnostic and prognostic value is largely due to the interpretation and the purpose of the test.

According to the World Health Organization guidelines, the post-coital test remains a reliable tool for the diagnosis of cervical infertility and sperm dysfunction, which is a possible cause of unexplained infertility. Over the last two cases, most other conventional tests have become inoperative and the results of the post-coital test may indicate the need for further investigations and may positively influence the treatment strategy.

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Correspondence to Martine Albert.

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Albert, M. Le test post coïtal à l’heure de l’AMP. Androl. 15, 160–166 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03035148

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