by Maggi Thomas

Created on: July 28, 2009

All married couples dream to have and raise their own child. Unfortunately, some couples have difficulties in having a child; there is about 15% of couples are infertile. Infertility is the disability to get pregnant after at least one year marriage without using birth control. If you are the couple that face the same situation, both of you should get infertility consultation, since there is a fact that up to 35% of infertility cases are caused by problems in male factors.

Research results state that male sperm quantities have reduced significantly during the last century; therefore male infertility is becoming a more common problem now. Environmental issue, such as exposure to chemicals used in the plastics industry that enter the food chain is assumed as one of the reasons that causes the sperm quantities decreasing. The most common cause of male infertility is enlargement of the scrotum veins that may affect sperm production. Using some medicines, abnormally shaped sperm, undescended testicle or some illness that may be causing male infertility, can be treated. Infertility due to genetic disorder, is hard to determine and the treatment is also difficult.

One of the male infertility testing method is the antisperm-antibody test. This test is to find out whether the man is producing antibody that can cause his sperm missing mobility and bundling together. Antisperm antibody means the immune system assumes the sperm as virus or foreign bodies. This antibody actually affects sperm in two methods. It can destroy the sperm and it can also influence the movement. The sperm will be hard to attain the egg because they can't swim forward and just move in a round motion.

A sample of sperm is examined to detect antisperm antibody in a man. One should follow the instructions on collecting the semen samples to get the accurate test result. Men who have had vasectomy, testicular surgery or injury may produce antisperm antibodies in response to an infection. The presence of antisperm antibodies in women can also cause infertility because their immune system will destroy the sperm; although it happens rarely to women. The antisperm antibody test can be also conducted to a woman to find this antibody in her blood. A sample of blood, vaginal fluid and uterus mucus will be needed to find antisperm antibody in a woman.

The antisperm antibody test is aims to detect the cause of infertility that usually related to abnormal immune system of men, since this condition seldom occurs to women. If antisperm antibody is detected on the head and the tail of sperm, you must take some medication. If antisperm antibody is detected in the cervical mucus, the woman must have treatment. If antisperm antibody is not detected, it may need to take other infertility test.

To overcome the presence of antisperm antibody, there are a few treatment options. Infertility treatment procedures, such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In vitro Fertilization (IVF) can support couple in getting pregnancy by allowing the sperm attain the egg without contact with the cervical mucus. In most cases, insemination procedure will be undertaken as the first method. If the pregnancy is still not gained, In Vitro Fertilization may be required.

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