Pregnancy Over 40, Sperm Allergies May Interfere
Most of us probably think of allergies as hay fever, food sensitivities and the like.See Also www.getpregnantover40.com for more on overcoming infertility and miscarriage - especially over the age of 40
But as the article explains below, you may have sperm allergies which may be sabatoging your efforts to conceive. Read more:
"Antisperm antibodies may be a complicating factor in as much as 5 to 10 percent of infertility cases," says Dr. Witkin. He adds that almost all men who have undergone a vasectomy (surgical operation that causes sterility) produce antisperm antibodies after the procedure. If he undergoes a vasectomy reversal, the antisperm antibodies will interfere with conception.
See Also: Chicken Pox and Fertility In Men (www.getpregnantover40.com
So what causes the immune system to make antisperm antibodies? A genital tract infection, a congenital abnormality in the male genital tract, a vasectomy (as mentioned above) or a varicocoele (a varicose vein in the testicles) can cause these antibodies to develop. Wives of men with abnormal sperm are also at increased risk for developing antisperm antibodies.Testing 1, 2, 3
When a couple experiences unexplained infertility, their doctor may recommend testing for antisperm antibodies. For males, a semen analysis can detect motionless or clumped sperm and identify the need for additional testing. Females undergo a post-coital test, in which a fluid sample is obtained from the cervix six to 12 hours after intercourse. The sample is then analyzed for the presence of shaking sperm. "In some cases, however, these tests may be normal, and antisperm antibodies may still be present," says Dr. Witkin.
A definitive diagnosis is reached after a couple undergoes a sperm antibody test. Dr. Witkin recommends the immunobead binding test (IBT) or the Mixed Agglutination Reaction (MAR) test. The IBT assesses the presence of antisperm antibodies in semen, cervical mucous or the blood of either person. The MAR is performed on a semen sample. "There are other tests available but they are non-specific and inaccurate," he says. "In my office we perform the immunobead binding test."
from: /www.babyzone.com