infertility, fertility, antibodies, immune system, antisperm, male fertility

Q: What is the MAR test?

A: This condition is also known as 'sperm allergy.' The immune system of some men and women see sperm as a foreign invader, like a germ, and their bodies make antibodies to attack and destroy the sperm. These antibodies can be directed against sperm surface antigens and have a negative effect on fertility. They can attach to the surface of the sperm, impair different functions of the sperm, and increase the risk of destruction of the sperm by the immune system.