Couple Discovers Little-Known Sperm Issue After Struggling to Conceive
By Claudia Poposki, Published Oct. 23, 2023
A Sydney woman, Amber Price, recently revealed the surprising obstacle she and her husband, John, faced in their journey to have a baby. After battling with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which affected her fertility, the couple was excited to start trying for a family. However, they soon discovered that John had an issue with his sperm that was hindering their efforts.
The pair, who met on Tinder in 2015 and got married six years later, underwent standard testing but received no answers. Determined to find a solution, they decided to invest in a specialist test for $500. This test revealed that there was an antibody in John’s sperm that was affecting their chances of conceiving.
Amber explained, “With all my health problems over the years, I brought both my husband and myself to the doctor’s after about two months of trying.” Despite the doctor’s recommendation to wait a year before testing, they agreed to proceed due to Amber’s health struggles. However, even after receiving clear results, they continued to face difficulties.
Feeling frustrated and at a loss, the couple sought help from a naturopath clinic in Sydney called The Jocelyn Centre. The clinic’s naturopath, Francesca Naish, reviewed their test results and suggested a specialized sperm analysis test called an immunobead test (IBT). This test would check for sperm antibodies that could be causing immunological infertility.
The condition, known as immunological infertility, occurs when the immune system mistakenly reacts to its own sperm as if it were invasive cells. It can be caused by various factors, including cancer, vasectomy, infection, or trauma to the area. John’s test results confirmed the presence of an antibody connected to his sperm.
According to Amber, the condition is common in men, but many are unaware of it. Studies have also shown links between the condition and testicular damage, which the couple speculated might have been caused by John’s participation in contact sports.
Although the diagnosis brought some relief, Amber and John were devastated that it took them two years to uncover the issue. After enduring 730 days and two miscarriages, they finally conceived their rainbow baby, Freya, in August 2023.
Amber’s journey to health, combined with medical issues within her family, led the couple to make the unconventional decision to freeze Freya’s stem cells. While some experts support the idea of banking cord blood as a biological insurance policy, others have ethical concerns about stem cell procedures.
Despite the controversies, Amber and John believed it was worthwhile to secure their daughter’s future. They chose Cell Care to perform the procedure with umbilical cord blood stem cells, which have shown promise in treating various conditions.
The couple is now sharing their story to raise awareness about the difficulties many face when trying to conceive. In Amber’s words, “I would endure extreme morning sickness up until 41 weeks just to have Freya in our lives.”
