Cervical mucus and sperm transport in reproduction.

Abstract

T he cervix and its complement of mucus appear to play an important if not critical role in human conception. Although sperm-cervical mucus interaction has been studied extensively by clinicians and basic scientists, the mechanisms of sperm migration through the cervix are poorly understood and the contribution of cervical dysfunction to infertility is controversial. In this article we will briefly summarize the clinical information that is available on the relationship of sperm-mucus interaction to infertility. Within that context, we will then discuss our knowledge of the biology of sperm interaction with cervical mucus. Because of space limitations, this article will be focused in these areas, and for more comprehensive surveys of the scientific and clinical literature the reader is referred to reviews on sperm transport’.* and cervical mucus.S There is extensive species variation in cervical physiology, and among the mammals frequently studied, only the ruminants and primates produce substantial amounts of cervical mucus. With regard to sperm-cervical mucus interaction, the human has been the most extensively studied species, and most of our discussion will focus on this body of observations and experiments.