Antisperm antibody testing: a comprehensive review of its role in the management of immunological male infertility and results of a global survey of clinical practices
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Antisperm antibodies (ASA), as a cause of male infertility, have been detected in infertile males as early as 1954. Multiple causes of ASA production have been identified, and they are due to an abnormal exposure of mature germ cells to the immune system. ASA testing (with mixed anti-globulin reaction, and immunobead binding test) was described in the WHO manual 5th edition and is most recently listed among the extended semen tests in the WHO manual 6th edition. The relationship between ASA and infertility is somewhat complex. The presence of sperm agglutination, while insufficient to diagnose immunological infertility, may indicate the presence of ASA. However, ASA can also be present in the absence of any sperm agglutination. The andrological management of ASA depends on the etiology and individual practices of clinicians. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the causes of ASA production, its role in immunological male infertility, clinical indications of ASA testing, and the available therapeutic options. We also provide the details of laboratory procedures for assessment of ASA together with important measures for quality control. Additionally, laboratory and clinical scenarios are presented to guide the reader in the management of ASA and immunological male infertility. Furthermore, we report the results of a recent worldwide survey, conducted to gather information about clinical practices in the management of immunological male infertility.
Date Issued
2022-01-01
Date Acceptance
2021-08-23
Citation
World Journal of Mens Health, 2022, 40 (3), pp.380-398
ISSN
2287-4208
Publisher
Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology
Start Page
380
End Page
398
Journal / Book Title
World Journal of Mens Health
Volume
40
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2022 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000744562800001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Andrology
Health Care Sciences & Services
Urology & Nephrology
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Antibodies
Infertility
male
Spermatozoa
Sperm agglutination
Survey
SEMEN PARAMETERS
PREGNANCY RATES
PREDNISOLONE TREATMENT
SPERM AUTOANTIBODIES
CHRONIC PROSTATITIS
SUBFERTILE MEN
DIAGNOSIS
FERTILITY
FERTILIZATION
COUPLES
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-01-01