Immunological Infertility

Your immune system is responsible for fighting harmful microorganisms through the production of antibodies that recognize and attack foreign cells, such as bacteria and viruses. Autoimmunity is an inappropriate immune response where your body produces antibodies against your own tissues. There are a number of autoimmune conditions that cause this response, affecting many body systems and organs. Some conditions may affect only a single organ or tissue, whereas others can affect many organs and associated tissues. Both types of autoimmune disorders are implicated in some causes of impaired fertility in women.

Cause

In women, anti-sperm antibodies may be present in the cervical mucous which can impair fertility. You may also have an autoimmune condition, where your body ‘recognizes’ its own cells as ‘foreign’, which may present in women as early pregnancy loss and miscarriage.

Treatment

Depending on your case and goals of care, your doctor may discuss treatment options such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic insemination (ICSI) with you.