Anti-Sperm-antibody

What sample is needed for anti-Sperm-antibody?

1. It can take male and female venous blood to make the serum.
2. Take the blood of the male and female for serum preparation.
3. Collect cervical mucus from the female.

What are the Indications for Anti Sperm-antibody?

1. This is a screening test for an infertile couple.
2. This detects antibodies against spermatozoa.

What is the pathophysiology of anti-sperm-antibody?

1. These antibodies are found in patients with no evidence of endocrine, semen, or other abnormality.
2. In such cases, measure the sperm-antibody titer.
3. Sperm antibodies are directed against the sperm antigen.
4. Antisperm antibodies are found in:
   1. Men with the blocked efferent duct.
   2. Men with a vasectomy show a 30% to 70% antibody.
5. After vasectomy, these antibodies are common and seen in 50% of the cases (30% to 70%).
6. The role of sperm anybody is controversial.
7. Positive sperm antibodies are unimportant; we need the titer of the antibodies.
   1. The higher titer of the serum sperm-anybody is considered more positive evidence of infertility.
   2. Low titers are insignificant.
   3. Mildly raised titers are not considered hopeless.
   4. Higher titers are significant for infertility.
8. The presence of sperm antibodies in females, which may be found in 7% to 17% of cases, is insignificant because some of these females become pregnant.
9. Sperm antibodies found in the cervical mucus are more significant than detected in the serum.

What is the mechanism of antibody formation?

1. Sperm from the blocked ducts leads to autoantibody formation as the immune system recognizes these as foreign substances.
   1. These antibodies are agglutinin or cytotoxic.
2. The antisperm antibody of IgA type is against the sperm tail, inhibiting motility and decreasing cervical mucus penetration.
3. Sperm antibody of IgG type blocks sperm-ovum fusion.

4. A high titer of sperm antibodies is strong evidence of infertility.
5. Sperm antibodies are found in 20% of females. Their significance in females is unclear because some of these ladies may become pregnant.
6. In some studies :
   1. Women with primary infertility are 75% positive for sperm agglutinin antibodies.
   2. 11% to 15% of pregnant ladies show the same level of sperm antibodies.

What is the normal sperm antibody?

• Negative.

What are the causes of Anti-sperm antibodies?

1. Blockage of testicular efferent ducts.
2. After the vasectomy, almost every male has an antisperm antibody. After the reversal of the vasectomy antisperm antibody disappears.
3. Infertility. This may be seen in both males and females.

How will you handle the sperm antibody?

To treat antisperm antibodies, the possibilities are:

1. Use of the condom.
2. Sperms are processed to remove the antibodies.
3. Immunosuppressive therapy can be given both in males and females.
4. Invitro fertilization (IVF) can be tried.

Questions and answers: