The Post Coital Fertility Test
The post coital or “after
intercourse” fertility test is performed to examine sperm
after its exposure to the cervical mucus. The couple
has intercourse at home and the patient comes to our
North Carolina fertility clinic office where a sample of her cervical fluid is retrieved by the fertility specialist.
The microscopic presence
of many “dead” or “non moving”
sperm may indicate a cervical defect such as antisperm
antibodies or mucus that is too thick or thin.
When antisperm antibodies
are present they mistake sperm for invading pathogens
like virus and bacteria. Once antibodies are present
they will damage or kill the sperm.
One of the best ways to treat
antibodies in the female is to use intrauterine
insemination (IUI), which bypasses the cervical
mucus by placing the sperm directly into the uterus.
The male may also rarely produce
antibodies to his own sperm. This usually results as a consequence
of trauma to the testicles or other situations where his
semen is exposed to his blood such as vasectomy
reversal.
