The human immune system functions to protect the body from harmful viruses and microorganisms. However, its excessive activity or incorrect work can become an obstacle to conceiving a child . Immunological infertility can be detected in both women and men. The main negative role in this deviation belongs to antisperm antibodies, which violate the fertility of spermatozoa. It is known that the immunological factor of infertility is diagnosed in 5% of couples who unsuccessfully try to become pregnant. Although the probability is small, when examining infertile married couples, this factor must be taken into account necessarily.
Immunological infertility in women - causes
In some cases, immune infertility occurs as a result of the incompatibility of seminal fluid and cervical mucus. During each ovulation, the ovaries produce estrogen, which helps to produce mucus that covers the cervix. To be near the ovum, spermatozoa must get through this mucus into the uterus, and then into the fallopian tubes. Spermatozoa die, the egg remains unfertilized. In this case, an analysis is needed to determine infertility, called the postcoital test. It involves the study of cervical mucus immediately after intercourse. Treatment of immunological infertility of this type involves artificial insemination , in which spermatozoa are injected directly into the uterus.
The cause may be more violations of blood clotting. The woman produces antibodies to her tissues, blood clots are formed. Autoimmune infertility occurs as a result of microthrombi and the inability to develop the fetus. The presence of such antibodies is detected by a blood test. Treatment of such immune infertility is to take small doses of heparin, steroids and aspirin.
Also immunological infertility can be the result of recognition of the fetus as an alien. In this case, the immune factor of infertility causes a spontaneous miscarriage. It is impossible to recognize the risk of such an unsuccessful pregnancy beforehand.
Immunological infertility in men
Impossibility of fertilization is sometimes due to the production of antisperm antibodies in the male body.
- obstruction of the vas deferens;
- trauma to the testicles;
- infection and inflammation;
- Varicocele's disease;
- hereditary predisposition.
Autoimmune infertility in men should diagnose an andrologist. A variety of antisperm antibodies, their number in the secrets of the reproductive tract, localization on the surface of spermatozoa is determined.