When you think about the various causes of infertility, you might thing about physical problems such as blocked fallopian tubes, or you might think about various hormonal problems that can interfere with whether or not a woman ovulates.

On the male side of things, you might think about things like a low sperm count, abnormally shaped or sized sperm, or even low sperm motility.

To be sure, these are some of the more common causes of infertility. Sometimes, however, infertility can be caused by something more obscure. Certainly, this is the case with sperm allergy.

What is a Sperm Allergy?

In the most basic sense, a sperm allergy is exactly what it sounds like. It’s when a woman is allergic to sperm. Specifically, a woman that has an immune reaction to sperm is allergic to sperm. Her body will actually produce antibodies that will kill the sperm.

How common is a sperm allergy?

Sperm allergy isn’t very common at all. The statistics bear this out. It is estimated that somewhere less than two percent of all women have an immune reaction to sperm.

How do I know if I have a sperm allergy?

That’s where it gets tricky. Having a sperm allergy isn’t like, let’s say, having a peanut allergy or having a mold allergy. When you have a sperm allergy, your body simply treats sperm as invaders and creates antibodies to attack them. You generally won’t present any signs or symptoms to let you know that you have a sperm allergy.

In some cases, your health care provider may be able to do some testing to see exactly what’s going on, and if you do indeed have a sperm allergy.

How can I get pregnant with a sperm allergy?

A number of possible solutions may be able to help. In some cases, artificial insemination is enough to get past your sperm allergy. In other cases, you may need more aggressive assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF, in order to overcome a sperm allergy.

What are my chances of successfully getting pregnant with a sperm allergy?

Statistics are scarce, but about 20 to 40 percent of women who undergo IVF will get pregnant with each IVF cycle.

Similar Posts:

• Using Royal Jelly/Bee Pollen for Fertility
• Infertility Causes – Poor Egg Quality
• Can Miscarriage Cause Infertility?
• Can Certain Illnesses Affect My Fertility In The Future?

This entry was posted under About Sperm, Fertility Issues.