Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: How is immune infertility treated？？？Blood ASABT-Ig and seminal fluid ASAB (MAR) positive. First follow-up question: I am generally normal in other aspects. For this condition, how should I be treated？ Thank you for the doctor's guidance.Doctor's answer:
Hello: Originally, human semen consists of two major components: sperm and seminal plasma. These two components contain many proteins, and these proteins can all serve as antigens, causing the body to produce antibodies. However, because the testes have a structure called the "blood-testis barrier," it protects sperm within the male reproductive tract, isolating them from the immune system, so no immune response occurs. On the other hand, seminal plasma also contains an immunosuppressive factor that can suppress the immune system, so no immune response occurs after sperm enter the female reproductive tract. If the blood-testis barrier is damaged or the immunosuppressive factor decreases, an immune response will occur, producing antisperm antibodies. This antibody will cause sperm to clump together or be immobilized by the antibody, reducing their motility and making it impossible for them to advance into the female reproductive organs to meet the egg. Even if some sperm are fortunate enough to enter the fallopian tube and encounter the egg, they still cannot penetrate the zona pellucida surrounding the egg, and the two cannot fuse, naturally resulting in infertility.Treating immunological infertility involves eliminating these antibodies, and there are various methods, which can be broadly divided into the following four categories:
Removing the cause: Inflammation and damage to the testes are often the reasons for antibody production. Timely anti-inflammatory treatment and surgical repair of damage can eliminate antibodies.
Immunosuppression: Using hormones such as prednisone and betamethasone can gradually reduce antibodies and restore fertility. However, the medication period is long, generally requiring continuous use for 3～