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Immunologically Induced Infertility

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Andrology

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Abstract

In addition to other immunopathological processes in the male genital tract, antisperm antibodies (ASA) can lead to immunologically induced infertility. Here, the spontaneous conception probability depends on the proportion of sperm carrying ASA. The main pathomechanisms of ASA-induced infertility include impaired sperm ability to penetrate the cervical mucus, impaired sperm capacitation and acrosome response, and impaired sperm binding to the zona pellucida of the oocyte. The detection of IgG or IgA autoantibodies bound to spermatozoa is performed according to WHO recommendations in the context of ejaculate analysis in the direct MAR or immunobead test. Since corticosteroid therapy shows only questionable therapeutic success, methods of assisted reproduction can be used to overcome male infertility associated with ASA.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany

    Andreas Meinhardt

  2. Bereich Andrologie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Kinderurologie und Andrologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Gießen, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany

    Hans-Christian Schuppe

  3. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Halle (Saale), Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

Authors
  1. Andreas Meinhardt
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  2. Hans-Christian Schuppe
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  3. Hermann M. Behre
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Meinhardt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Eberhard Nieschlag

  2. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

  3. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Sabine Kliesch

  4. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Susan Nieschlag

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Meinhardt, A., Schuppe, HC., Behre, H.M. (2023). Immunologically Induced Infertility. In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M., Kliesch, S., Nieschlag, S. (eds) Andrology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31574-9_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31574-9_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-31573-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-31574-9

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