Walter K. H. Krause • Rajesh K. Naz

2009

The Impact of Immune Reactions
on Human Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after having unprotected intercourse for a year. Infertility is increasing worldwide and has various causes both in the male and the female partner. Immune reactions to sperm can contribute up to 2–30% of infertility. The sperm has both autoantigenic as well as isoantigenic potential, and is thus capable of producing antisperm antibodies (ASAs) and sperm-reactive T cells in both infertile men and women.