Yes, a woman's body can reject male sperm. This can occur due to several factors, including incompatibility, immune response, and possibly even the woman's inherent selection process.
Mechanisms of Sperm Rejection
Several mechanisms contribute to a woman's body rejecting sperm:
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Incompatibility: Research indicates that a woman's reproductive system may reject sperm that is not compatible with her body. This is more likely if she hasn't been previously exposed to that particular man's sperm over time. [Source: The mating game is far more complicated than X and Y, Adelaide University, 23-Jun-2010] This suggests a form of selective process occurs within the female reproductive system.
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Antisperm Antibodies: A woman's body can produce antibodies that attack sperm, effectively killing them. This is an immune response, often triggered by an allergic reaction to semen. [Source: Antisperm Antibodies: Why They Form, Tests for Diagnosis, Treatment, WebMD, Apr 23, 2023] The antibodies present in the vagina actively work to eliminate the sperm.
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Selective Sperm Choice: Studies suggest that the female reproductive system may actively select which sperm fertilize an egg. This isn't a rejection in the sense of an immune response but rather a process of choosing the "fittest" sperm. [Source: A woman's eggs choose lucky sperm during last moments of fertilization, CNN, June 9, 2020] This highlights a more active role of the female body in successful fertilization.
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Neutrophil Capture: Even repeated mating in some species shows that not all sperm survive the journey; some sperm are captured by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). [Source: The Female Response to Seminal Fluid, Physiological Reviews]
While many factors contribute to successful fertilization, it's clear that the female reproductive system plays a crucial role in selecting and filtering sperm, which, in some cases, results in rejection.
