The presence of antisperm antibodies can prevent some women from getting pregnant. The immune system sees the semen as an invader in the body and creates antibodies to kill it. Basically, the immune system mistakes the sperm for a virus.
Although relatively rare, this is a cause of infertility.
Antibodies affect sperm in two ways. They can kill the sperm. The antibodies also affect the motion of the sperm. Rather than swimming, they clump and move in a circular motion. In most cases, they are unable to reach the egg.
The antisperm antibody test is used to diagnose this cause of infertility. If no other cause for infertility can be found or the results of the post coital test are not conclusive, your doctor may recommend this test. The test looks for antibodies in the blood that attack a man’s sperm.
Men can develop anti sperm antibodies as well. Men who have had vasectomy reversal, varicocele or testicular surgery or injury are at a higher risk of developing this disorder. To detect anti sperm antibodies in a man, a sample of sperm is examined to look for the antibodies.
If anti sperm antibodies are detected, there are a few treatment options. Infertility procedures, such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In vitro Fertilization (IVF) can help couples conceive. These procedures allow the sperm to avoid contact with the cervical mucous and reach the egg. In most cases, IUI will be attempted first. If pregnancy is not achieved, IVF may be recommended.
In severe cases, doctors may take an added step. Some will use a procedure known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI. This technique involves injecting the sperm directly into the egg, giving it a much better chance of fertilizing the egg and achieving pregnancy. ICSI is done with in vitro fertilization procedures.
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