Antisperm antibodies in women undergoing intrauterine insemination

Article Abstract:

Placement of sperm directly into the uterus, a technique known as intrauterine insemination, can be used to achieve pregnancy when infertility is caused by abnormalities in sperm, cervical mucus or sperm-mucus interactions. In some cases, intrauterine insemination is used even though the cause of infertility has not been clearly established. Some investigators have hypothesized that intrauterine insemination procedures, which load a large amount of sperm directly into the uterus, can provoke an immune response to the sperm as a foreign substance, creating antisperm antibodies. To test this hypothesis, antisperm antibodies were measured in the blood and cervical mucus of 93 patients undergoing multiple intrauterine inseminations. Measurements were made after the first, fourth, and sixth insemination cycles. Forty patients completed six insemination cycles and 53 completed four cycles. There was a low, but temporary, level of antisperm antibodies detected in only 10.8 percent of the patients. It is not likely that this transient low level would have any effect of fertility. There was no significant production of antisperm antibodies in the women who had low antisperm antibodies at the onset of the study. It is concluded that intrauterine insemination does not induce the production of antisperm antibodies. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Measurement, Physiological aspects, Human reproductive technology, Infertility, Spermatozoa, Sperm, Isoantibodies

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Secrecy: an unresolved issue in the practice of donor insemination

Article Abstract:

Artificial insemination as a treatment for infertility raises a number of ethical issues for both the parents of the child and the medical practitioners involved in the procedure. Artificial insemination involves using sperm from a donor to conceive a child. Whether or not to tell the child about his or her conception is a difficult decision and most parents seem to opt not to reveal the details of the insemination process to their child. This choice runs the risk that the child may later find out about the artificial insemination and feel betrayed. It is often unclear if the couple involved has resolved their feeling s about the male's infertility. Secrecy about the process also contributes to public ignorance. It may also deprive the couple of emotional support from family and friends.

Ethical aspects, Sperm donors

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The disclosure decision: concerns and issues of parents of children conceived through donor insemination

Article Abstract:

Many parents who had a child by artificial insemination may choose never to reveal the information to the child. A survey of 65 couples, 21 mothers and 5 fathers who had a child conceived by donor insemination found that 54% had decided never to reveal this information to the child. About three-quarters made this decision because of a concern for confidentiality. Thirty percent said they would disclose the information and 70% decided to do so because of concerns about honesty. Sixteen percent remained undecided.

Surveys, Parents

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