[30somethingmom]

After we had 2 miscarriages, I tested positive for antiphospholipid antibodies, which affect blood clotting and can cause recurrent miscarriages. My doctor told me it is an autoimmune problem, where you body produces antibodies against itself. I have done a lot of reading about antiphospholipid syndrome and am curious about other immune issues that can affect your ability to get pregnant and/or carry a pregnancy to term.

For those who have immune issues, what problem or problems do you have? How does it or has it affected your fertility?

[einstein]

My DH has antisperm antibodies -- usually women have it, where there body kills off the man's sperm. My DH has it, though and most men who have this condition have it as a result of an illness like cancer, the mumps, or from a bad groin injury. We have no clue where DH got this because he's never had any of those.

We started seeing an RE and he suggested DH get tested for AA since he has low motility. We didn't realize it, but most men never are tested for this condition because not too many clinics/hospitals do the testing. We finally learned what our IF problem was after all of this rigamarole -- AA on Dh's part.

[slobin]

Deanna,

I have elevated NK cell activity and low blocking antibodies. NK cells are usually the "good guys" that come to our defense and kill cancer cells, virus, and other quicly dividing cells (invaders). However, when your NK cells are overactive (as they are in 50% of women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis) they are too agressive and mistake the rapidly dividing fetal cells as cancer (or other type of foreign invader) and kill it

Blocking antibodies are the protective cells of the immune system that put up a "shield" around the fetus to protect it against immune attack. Since the fetus in in fact half "foreign" DNA- our partner's, the immune system can easily mistake it as dangerous and kill it. Many women with immune problems have low blocking antibodies, thus not enough protection for the fetus.

Anti-phospholipid antibodies fall into this same category of IF and is treated similarly.

IVIg treats all of these conditions, blood thinners like heparin/lovenox are used for APA, and LIT (leukocyte immunization treatment) treats low blocking antibodies.

Hope this helps clarify this confusing area.

[time2grow]

Been a long time since anyone commented in this thread so I thought I would give a call out to see if there are any others out there who's infertility is caused by antibodies in CM....oh and if any treatments worked

Time2grow

[shb24]

Karen,

What was done once your DH was diagnosed with AA?

Thanks,
shelly

[jenedens6102]

I need to have this all checked out myself. I went to an endocrinologist in December to question autoimmune antibodies and she said most cases of hypothyroidism is related to autoimmune disease but didn't see a need for any testing since my levels have been steady for the past two years. But for my peace of mind I think it's worth checking out. Any advice on that?

[time2grow]

Jen - I noticed you started using preseed. I was reading about this online today. Have you ever heard of it helping people (females) who have sperm antibodies? I read one testimonial where it helped a couple with hostile CM but I don't know to what degree.

Thanks
Time2grow

[nedege24]

Originally Posted by shb24

Karen,

What was done once your DH was diagnosed with AA?

Thanks,
shelly

Yea i would like to know also

[lorrieb3]

I am now 50 years old and childless, I started my fertility work up in my early 20's with all the normal things and was dx with unexplained infertility. Everything was working, but no baby. In my early 30's we went with AF and IVF, still no baby and no reasons why. Now at 50 I have been dx with Celiac disease. In reading on this disease and talking with my doctor, unexplained infertility is sign of this disease. If only I had known then that changing my diet could have given me the one thing I wanted most, life would be very different now. I just wanted to pass this on in the hopes that someone could be helped to have the baby I never did.

[nursesunshine]

My DH has antisperm antibodies. These were diagnosed after everything else turned out normal on both of our tests. They use a sperm assay test (I believe it is called) to diagnose this. It can be caused by mumps, illnesses (such as cancer), as well as groin injury and anything that can disrupt the blood testes barrier. Most men (70% I have read) who have had a reversed vasectomy have antisperm antibodies. This condition is still not well understood. Anyone who has over 60-80% antibodies attached to their sperm will most likely require IVF with ICSI to achieve a successful pregnancy. If anyone has any other info on this I would be interested. I'm in my 2ww after trying IUI (this is before I was informed that it will probably do us no good as we have 100% antibodies). God can work miracles though so I'm still hoping!