Table of contents:
- What are antisperm antibodies (ASA)?
- PLI therapy procedure (Paternal Leukocyte Immunization)
- Consultation
- Pre-PLI test
- Immunization action
- Post-PLI test
- Who needs PLI therapy?
In recent years, statistics show that the infertility rate in married couples is increasing. One of the "suspects" is the high level of antisperm antibodies in the wife's body. This condition can be treated with therapy paternal leukocyte immunization aka PLI.
What are antisperm antibodies (ASA)?
Before digging deeper into the PLI technique, it is better if we first know what ASA is.
Infertility or infertility is not just a male or female problem. This condition can happen to anyone, either husband or wife.
One of the reasons that makes couples unable to have offspring for years is the presence of antisperm antibodies (antisperm antibody/ ASA) on the female body.
ASA is a compound in the body that can "destroy" sperm. These antibodies will then recognize sperm as foreign objects that are harmful to a person's body so that they will be destroyed.
Anti-sperm antibodies can be present in the blood or vaginal mucus. However, don't panic yet, because not all women have it.
The suspicion of antisperm antibodies in the wife's body is strengthened when the husband and wife are declared fertile, but have not had children.
One method that can be done to suppress ASA is by injecting the husband's white blood cells into the wife's body, known as a technique. paternal leukocyte immunization (PLI).
PLI therapy procedure (Paternal Leukocyte Immunization)
If it is proven that anti-sperm antibodies, aka ASA, are the cause of infertility in a partner, a doctor may offer PLI therapy. Paternal Leukocyte Immunization, apart from IVF.
Paternal Leukocyte Immunization is an alternative way to cultivate offspring in cases where the wife's body "rejects" the husband's sperm.
PLI therapy is carried out by injecting the husband's white blood cells into the wife's body to suppress the number of antisperm antibodies.
The following is the procedure for implementing PLI therapy.
Consultation
Before starting this therapy, the couple will first conduct a medical consultation with a doctor.
Several things that need to be discussed include the indications, stages, side effects and costs of PLI therapy.
Pre-PLI test
After fully understanding the advantages and disadvantages of PLI therapy, the husband's blood will be drawn for further examination.
This examination aims to, for example, determine the presence or absence of certain infectious diseases. After being declared safe, then the couple can proceed to the immunization procedure.
Immunization action
The husband's blood will first be taken. The blood will then undergo a certain procedure so that it will eventually leave behind only white blood cells (leukocytes).
These white blood cells will then be injected into the wife's body at a certain point. Generally, the injection is done in the arm area.
Post-PLI test
A few weeks after immunization is carried out, the doctor will check the level of antisperm antibodies in the wife's body. If the results are good, the couple can immediately be advised to have sexual intercourse.
Several studies have also reported that the rate of miscarriage decreased after doing this PLI therapy procedure.
Who needs PLI therapy?
Usually, a person is declared infertile if they have had sexual intercourse without contraceptives regularly for a year, but have not been pregnant.
Even so, further tests are still needed to know for sure that both are fertile or infertile.
If the results are both normal and are declared fertile, it could be the cause of the presence of antisperm antibodies.
If ASA is proven to be the cause, your doctor may recommend PLI therapy to suppress the amount of antisperm antibodies.
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