1. Infertility Due to Abnormal Blood Clotting
Doctors define infertility as the inability to conceive following 12 months of well-timed, unprotected intercourse. There are many causes of infertility in men and women. Some result from autoimmune disorders or diseases. In this instance, the body produces antibodies that attack its own organs and blood vessels. In cases of autoimmune infertility, the body attacks fertilized eggs, sperm or reproductive organs. One cause of autoimmune related infertility is abnormal blood clotting. In this case, a woman's body will consider a fertilized egg as harmful. Her body will then try to prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in her uterus, or it will try to cut off the blood supply to an implanted embryo which will call infertility or recurrent pregnancy losses (miscarriages). Autoimmune diseases that can lead to this type of infertility include antiphospholipid syndrome and lupus.
2. Male and Female Rejection of Sperm
Not only can a woman's body reject fertilized eggs and embryos, but it can also reject her partner's sperm. Some women with autoimmune diseases have immune systems that see sperm as dangerous invaders. During intercourse, the immune system can go into overdrive, creating antibodies that can kill off any sperm that may be present. In some cases, the antibodies don't kill the sperm; rather, they impair the sperm's activity and motility. Also note that a man's body can also reject his own sperm due to autoimmune conditions. This can lower his sperm count and affect sperm activity, which can render him infertile.
3. Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)
Some women can experience infertility due to premature ovarian failure (POF). Approximately 1 percent of women under the age of 40 have premature ovarian failure, also known as premature menopause. This condition leads to irregular menstrual periods, high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the inability to release eggs (ovulate). If a woman cannot ovulate, she can't conceive. Certain autoimmune diseases can lead to premature ovarian failure, including lupus, type 1 diabetes and Addison's disease. Some women can experience premature ovarian failure even without actually having a specific autoimmune disease. In these cases, antibodies attack the parts of her body that produce hormones. Without the proper hormone production, premature ovarian failure can result.
