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Infertility & Reproduction Health Center

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Infertility & Reproduction Health Center

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Antisperm Antibody Test

(continued)

How It Feels

Blood test

The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch.

Semen sample

Collecting a semen sample does not cause any discomfort. If masturbation is against your religious beliefs, talk with your doctor.

Risks

Blood test

There is very little chance of a problem from having blood sample taken from a vein.

You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes.
In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be used several times a day to treat this.
Ongoing bleeding can be a problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and other blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell your doctor before your blood sample is taken.

Semen sample

Usually there are no problems from collecting a semen sample.

Results

An antisperm antibody test looks for special proteins (antibodies) that fight against a man's sperm in blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. The higher the level of antibody-affected sperm found in the semen, the lower the chance of the sperm fertilizing an egg.

What Affects the Test

Collecting a semen sample within 48 hours of ejaculating or after not ejaculating for longer than 5 days may affect the results of this test.

What To Think About

Experts disagree about the usefulness of the test because the result may not change the treatment. Most people who have infertility problems because of sperm antibodies choose assisted reproductive technology to become pregnant.
For more information on infertility testing, see the topic Infertility Testing.

Related Information

Other Works Consulted
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby?s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby.
Speroff L, Fritz MA (2005). Male infertility. In Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th ed., pp. 1135-1173. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Revised	March 19, 2010

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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: March 19, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.