Patient's question:
Please ask: Does the production of antibodies against sperm affect all sperm, or only some? If I develop antibodies against my husband's sperm, is it a temporary condition or will I always have these antibodies? Thank youDoctor's answer:
Hello:Antisperm antibodies are one of the most common causes of female infertility. Research has found that 15.18% of infertile women have antisperm antibodies present in their bodies. Under normal circumstances, both sperm and embryos are foreign to the mother. Therefore, each act of sexual intercourse may be like an immunization, but only a small number of women develop antisperm antibodies. The reasons are as follows:
(1) Seminal plasma contains some immunosuppressive factors that can inhibit the function of T and B cells. These factors can be wrapped around the surface of sperm, preventing the female immune system from reacting to sperm.
(2) Enzymes in seminal plasma can affect the expression of antigens on the surface of sperm.
(3) After sperm enter the vagina, their surface is quickly covered by a layer of maternal proteins, which protects the sperm and helps them move upward.
(4) Although millions of sperm are released during ejaculation, fewer than 5% of them enter the uterine cavity. Since only sperm that enter the uterine cavity and abdominal cavity can sensitize lymphocytes, this significantly reduces the chance of women developing immunity. As a result, normal women rarely produce antisperm antibodies.
However, if any of the above steps encounter problems, women may develop antisperm antibodies and eventually become infertile. For example, sexual intercourse during menstruation or with conditions such as endometritis increases the chance of sperm and their antigens entering the bloodstream and coming into contact with immune active cells. If sperm enter the intestines (such as the rectum), the rectal mucosa is relatively thin and prone to damage, and the submucosal area contains a high number of Langerhans cells, which have functions similar to macrophages, making it easier for antigens to enter the body. Once a woman forms antisperm antibodies, the cervix