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ASA in the Female

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Immune Infertility

Abstract

This article briefly reviews our knowledge about antisperm antibodies (ASA) in females and outlines several hypotheses regarding the etiology of sperm immunity in women.

There is evidence that strong ASA in females can reduce the chances of conception and ASA from female sera have also been found to inhibit in vitro fertilization (IVF) in humans and some animal models. Several possible factors leading to the development of ASA in human females have been proposed, including cross-reactivity with microbial antigens, and the possible role of antibody idiotypes and interferon gamma-mediated potentiation of the antisperm immune response in women whose male partners have ASA in their semen. It is vital that more research is conducted in this area if we are to understand female immuno-modulation in response to sperm antigenicity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology Unit, Laboratory Services Department, Royal Children’s and Royal Women’s Hospitals, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Gary N. Clarke DSc

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  1. Gary N. Clarke DSc
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Correspondence to Gary N. Clarke DSc .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital, Philipp University, Marburg, Germany

    Walter K.H. Krause

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, West Virgina University, Morgantown, USA

    Rajesh K. Naz

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Clarke, G.N. (2017). ASA in the Female. In: Krause, W., Naz, R. (eds) Immune Infertility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40788-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40788-3_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40786-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40788-3

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