Anti-sperm antibodies

We have encountered such a situation in our lives: a couple has been living together for a long time without having children, but after they separated, they each started a new family and were able to have children normally. This makes people feel very incredible. In fact, this is caused by the so-called anti-sperm antibodies. The so-called anti-sperm antibodies refer to the fact that women have a certain resistance to their husband's sperm, making it impossible for them to conceive.

Although this situation is not common in clinical practice, it does exist, especially when infertile couples are found to be normal after examination. At this time, it is necessary to consider whether anti-sperm antibodies are the cause. What exactly are anti-sperm antibodies?

The human body's immune function is performed by billions of different types of lymphocytes. Lymphocytes activated by external antigens produce two different immune responses, namely humoral immunity and cellular immunity. Once foreign matter invades a part of the body, lymphocytes are like billions of armed soldiers. They immediately mobilize their troops, fight one after another, and move forward bravely. With the cooperation of white blood cells, macrophages, etc., they will eventually eliminate the invading enemies. However, the immune response is not always beneficial to the individual and can sometimes cause an immune response. Under normal circumstances, lymphocytes have the ability to recognize self tissues and foreign substances.

However, under pathological conditions, the immune recognition function makes incorrect inferences, or the human body's tissues undergo certain changes induced by certain external factors, causing the immune system to attack its own tissues, causing damage and destruction to the tissues themselves. This is an autoimmune disease, such as lupus erythematosus, immune nephropathy, etc. In addition, some tissues in the human body cannot be recognized by the immune system due to isolation from certain barriers. For example, sperm antigens occur in the late stage of individual development, later than the immune tolerance period, so sperm-specific antigens have auto- and alloimmunogenicity. And under normal circumstances, due to anatomical reasons, sperm is isolated from the blood circulation system and never encounters lymphocytes, so no immune response occurs. Once they meet due to reproductive tract damage or inflammation, an immune response occurs, producing anti-sperm antibodies.

After understanding what anti-sperm antibodies are, the treatment of this disease generally uses artificial insemination. There is also a more traditional treatment method, which is to use condoms when the couple has sex, that is, to prevent the woman from coming into contact with the male sperm. If it is stopped for about half a year, there is a possibility of pregnancy.