Prostate, Opens dialog

Test Overview

An antisperm antibody test looks for special proteins (antibodies) that fight against sperm in blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. The test uses a sample of sperm and adds a substance that binds only to affected sperm.

Semen can cause an immune system response. The antibodies can damage or kill sperm. If a high number of sperm antibodies come into contact with sperm, it may be hard for the sperm to fertilize an egg. This is called immunologic infertility.

A person's immune system can make antibodies that kill their own sperm. This can happen when the testicles are injured or after surgeries (such as a biopsy or vasectomy) or after a prostate gland (Figure 1) infection. The testicles normally keep the sperm away from the rest of the body and the immune system.

The immune system can also have an allergic reaction to another person's semen and make sperm antibodies. This kind of immune response is not fully understood but may affect fertility. This is a rare cause of infertility.

Figure 1 - Prostate

The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. It's a small, walnut-shaped organ that produces most of the fluid in semen. It lies just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine through the penis and out of the body.

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
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