Sperm Autoantibodies
Antibodies are proteins that our bodies produce that bind other proteins. While they often help protect our bodies, they can also cause fertility problems when they bind to sperm. These sperm autoantibodies are actually found in up to 10% of men who present with infertility and are often the result of inflammation, infection and obstruction. Sometimes, a cause is never found.
How do you diagnose sperm autoantibodies ? Dr. Kuang will work with you and the andrology lab to get an accurate assessment of your sperm. One sign of antibodies is that the sperm will often clump into groups of sperm. If this is seen, antibody tests will be performed to confirm the presence of these proteins. Sometimes, the cervical-mucus test (where sperm are tested to see how far they can swim through a woman’s cervical mucus) may also identify some men who have sperm that cannot swim as well due to antibodies.
What can you do about the autoantibodies? Dr. Kuang will perform a careful medical history and thorough physical exam looking for any obvious causes that can be treated. Special techniques of sperm washing and preparation can be used to circumvent the inhibitory properties of sperm autoantibodies. This is one more step toward optimizing a man’s reproductive capacity to help a couple reach their fertility goals.