Patient's question:
I have been married to my husband for over a year, and we have not been able to get pregnant. I am very anxious. My mother-in-law keeps nagging about wanting a grandson, and I feel a lot of pressure. Yesterday, the doctor told me I have antisperm antibodies. I don't understand what antisperm antibodies are?Doctor's answer:
Antisperm antibodies (AsAb) are a complex pathological product that can affect both men and women, and their exact causes or etiology are not yet fully understood. In men, sperm and seminal fluid are considered specific antigens for women. Upon contact with blood, they can trigger immune responses in both men and women, leading to the production of corresponding antibodies that hinder the combination of sperm and eggs, resulting in infertility. These conditions are collectively referred to as immunological infertility.In the female reproductive tract, particularly within the uterus, macrophages recognize sperm as "foreign bodies" and actively phagocytose them when AsAb is present. Under normal circumstances, there are no AsAb in a woman's bloodstream. However, in the aforementioned special cases, the female body mounts a "self-defense" response against sperm and seminal fluid antigens, as if "family members don't recognize each other," causing the immune system to produce antibodies. In men, the immune system produces "self-defense," leading to the generation of antibodies that trigger "self-destruction," making it difficult for sperm to survive.