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Category 4 Immunological Problems |
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Autoimmune Response to Sperm Antigen
Ten percent of women with infertility, implantation failures and
recurrent pregnancy losses have produced antibodies to sperm. When
this happens, a couple is unable to conceive normally, even if they
had no problems with conception in the past. The antibody to sperm
is often associated with antiphospholipid antibodies to the
phospholipids serine and ethanolamine. Antibodies to sperm should be
suspected
- if women have antibodies to serine and or ethanolamine,
- in women with poor post coital tests (sperm are dead or not
moving in the cervical mucus), and
- in women whose spouses have antisperm antibodies.
Being exposed to antibody coated sperm dispensed by the male
seems to encourage women to make antisperm antibodies on their own.
When antisperm antibodies develop, they will inactivate or attack
sperm from the husband and any donor (i.e., they are not partner
specific). Testing for antisperm antibodies in women is done from a
blood sample. There are more than five different methods to
determine if antisperm antibodies are present. The most sensitive
and reliable methods are
- immunobead binding antisperm antibody assay, and
- flow cytometry detection of antisperm antibodies.
The presence of antisperm antibodies in women strongly predicts
that she will also have category 5 immune
problems.
| Autoimmune Response to Sperm
Antigen |
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Consequences
- Sperm antibody test positive.
- Sperm antibody positive by flow cytometer.
- Couple is unable to conceive normally.
- Multiple failed pregnancy through IVF, IUI, GIFT or
ZIFT.
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Consequences
of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
: An Introduction to
Categories 1 - 5 Immune Problems |
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