What to do if the partners are incompatible for conception. Signs and causes of partner incompatibility, impact on conception, compatibility analysis when planning pregnancy What is partner incompatibility

If a married couple cannot conceive a child for a long time, the reason for this may be not only health problems. According to medical statistics, in 1 case out of 10 the cause of infertility is the incompatibility of partners. In most situations, this problem is solvable. What types of partner incompatibility are there? By what signs in the process of planning a conception can one understand that a man and a woman are incompatible? Is it possible to overcome the incompatibility of partners during conception?

What is needed for a successful conception?

When spouses think about offspring, many of them mistakenly believe that for successful conception, you just need to have sex. Meanwhile, for the onset of pregnancy, it is necessary that many factors coincide:

• plan sexual intercourse in the middle of the menstrual cycle;
• choose positions in which the leakage of sperm from the vagina is less likely;
• by the time of an attempt to conceive, a woman and a man should drink 2-3 courses of folic acid;
• it is desirable to get rid of addictions;
• It is desirable for future parents to be healthy.

In addition to these conditions for successful conception, the couple must have 100 percent compatibility. We are talking not only about the physiological compatibility of partners, but also genetic and immunological.

Why partners may be incompatible with each other?

There are several types of incompatibility during conception: physiological, biological (it is also called immunological), according to the Rh factor. What does each of these types of incompatibility of potential parents mean? Why do they arise and how often do they occur among couples who want to have a baby?

Physiological incompatibility

What does this kind of incompatibility mean? In this case, we are talking about a discrepancy between the genitals of a man and a woman: an oversized penis and a narrow vagina, or, conversely, a small penis and a wide vagina. This type of incompatibility is the most easily overcome.

If desired, with such disproportions, spouses can become parents. To date, there are many ways to level the difference between the size of the genital organs of sexual partners.

Incompatibility by blood type and Rh factor

It is believed that sometimes a woman cannot bear a baby if her blood types are incompatible with her husband. This is a myth that has not been scientifically proven. Among relatives and friends there are people with supposedly incompatible blood types who have become parents. Another thing is the Rh factor. If there is an antigen in the human body, this indicator is positive; if it is absent, it is negative (denoted as Rh + and Rh-).

Ideally, spouses should have identical Rh factors. However, this is not the case for all couples. The conflict of these indicators in the future woman in labor and the fetus occurs in cases where she has a negative Rh factor, and the baby has a positive one. This option is possible if the specified antigen is present in the father's blood. In this way, the woman's immune system produces antibodies to the foreign protein.

This type of incompatibility does not mean at all that they will not be able to conceive a child. Pregnancy is likely, but the risk of spontaneous termination is high. Unlike the first pregnancy, which is considered relatively safe, the second can lead to serious consequences for the woman and the baby. That is why women with a negative Rh factor with any blood type are contraindicated in abortion.

Incompatibility of genetic etiology

Genetic incompatibility of spouses is a fairly common occurrence. Experts note that recently among couples planning the birth of a child, cases of identifying a conflict at the chromosomal level have become more frequent. Genetic compatibility is the absence of karyotype anomalies in both spouses. To understand what genetic incompatibility is, you should understand the mechanism of its occurrence.

The human body contains HLA genes. They are also called “tissue compatibility antigens”. They are protein molecules and are located on the surface of almost all cells. They are more fully represented on the surface of leukocytes. HLA genes are divided into 2 types. HLA class II (leukocyte antigen) performs the following functions:

• detects a pathogenic agent that promotes cell mutation;
• recognizes pathogens with their own genotype;
• determines changes in the structure of its own cell.

Every day, certain cells undergo mutation processes. If they are destroyed in a timely manner, there is no danger. Their preservation threatens the development of malignant neoplasms.

The HLA genes of a child are a combination of antigens of tissue compatibility of the father and mother. In most cases, these genes do not match, which means that the spouses are genetically compatible. In this situation, when a fetal egg is implanted, the female body perceives the fetus as a semi-foreign substance and begins to produce antibodies to the male class II HLA.

Such a measure is aimed at protecting and preserving the life of the child. With genetic compatibility, the immunity of the future mother ceases to perceive the embryo as a change in its own cells. As a result, the pregnancy develops safely.

When a husband and wife are genetically incompatible, their HLA is the same. The female body does not perceive the male component in small quantities. The immune system sees the mutated mother cells in the embryo and begins to fight them. This ends with the fading of the fetus or spontaneous abortion.

Immunological factor incompatibility

Biological incompatibility also has a negative effect on conception. This species occurs in 10% of infertile families. With immunological incompatibility, the female body perceives spermatozoa as foreign elements. As a result of the formation of antibodies to the partner's seminal fluid, male germ cells die as soon as they enter the female genital tract. The mechanism of occurrence of this phenomenon is similar to how an allergic reaction to any foreign element occurs in the body.

How to check if a man and a woman are compatible when planning a pregnancy?

What to do if repeated attempts to get pregnant are not successful? In this situation, you need to consult a doctor who will prescribe a compatibility test. There are a large number of analyzes (information about them is available in the table below) that allow you to check how compatible partners are.

To determine the genetic compatibility of spouses, a venous blood test is done (for more details, see the article: compatibility of 1-4 blood groups for conceiving a child). Initially, their DNA is analyzed and then compared. This procedure is called HLA typing. A postcoital test is also performed to detect active spermatozoa.

Is it possible to overcome incompatibility and is it worth it?

If incompatible spouses want to have a child, there is a way out of almost any situation. The solution to the problem depends on its type:

• Disproportion of the genitals. If the penis is too big, you can put a special restrictive ring on it before having sex. With a wide vagina, it is recommended to choose positions in which penetration will be deeper. In extreme cases, resort to surgical suturing of the vagina.
• The conflict of Rh factors. In the process of bearing a child, it is necessary to check monthly with the help of tests the presence of antibodies contained in the blood of a future woman in labor. Shortly before delivery (3 days), the patient is injected with anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin, designed to prevent the formation of antibodies.
• conflict at the chromosomal level. The method of therapy depends on the degree of similarity of the genes of the parents. Drugs administered intravenously to the patient help the immune system recognize foreign chromosomes and not destroy them. As an alternative, in this case resort to in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
• Rejection by the female body of male genetic material. Antiallergic and immunostimulating drugs, corticosteroids are used. Before trying to conceive, it is recommended to use condoms. Methods such as IUI, IVF, ICSI are also used.

Not always difficulties with procreation arise due to diseases of the male or female reproductive system. According to statistics, every 10 infertile couples have problems caused by the incompatibility of partners during conception. It occurs in primary and secondary infertility.

Incompatibility of partners at conception: causes

The causes of infertility are distributed in equal proportions between both spouses: 30% are associated with women, 30% with men, the last third is due to mutual inability to conceive (20%) and unexplained cases (10%).

If within a year of regular sexual intercourse without protection against the onset of pregnancy by all known methods, conception did not occur, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

In 10 out of 100 infertile couples, laboratory tests reveal the incompatibility of partners during conception. The inability to maintain a pregnancy when the mother's body rejects the fetus in the early stages is also a signal that a couple needs to be checked for compatibility. In addition, the birth of children with malformations or stillbirth in relatively healthy people should not be ignored by parents.

The main types of incompatibility

There are several types of incompatibility that interfere with the conception and bearing of children.

Immunological mismatch

It is, simply put, an allergic reaction to male sperm. The female body perceives the seminal fluid as a foreign invasion, and seeks to destroy it by producing antibodies. Provocative reasons:

• weak immunity of one or both partners, caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, a sluggish form of chronic diseases or previous gynecological operations;
• promiscuity in the recent past;
• continual protection with lubricated condoms before attempting to conceive. Lubricants are toxic to male sperm and interfere with the function of cervical mucus.

Sometimes sperm cells die due to antibodies in the male body produced when they are allergic to their own sperm. Or the female body rejects seminal fluid - a specific partner or all representatives of the stronger sex.
The female body synthesizes antibodies that kill sperm

Rhesus conflict

The combination of protein fractions located on the erythrocyte membrane is called the Rh factor. Depending on the presence or absence of antigens, it is positive or negative.

In couples with a positive Rh in both partners or negative only in a man, there are no difficulties with conception (in the absence of other problems with fertility).

Rh-negative women can give birth to a child from an Rh-positive partner, and the first pregnancy is usually uneventful. But during repeated attempts to bear a child, the mother's body often rejects the fetus as a result of a Rh conflict with the baby, who inherited the antigen from the father. The first-born in the process of childbirth, when his blood enters the mother's bloodstream, provokes the production of antibodies to a foreign antigen, but this amount is not life-threatening. With subsequent children, difficulty conceiving and the likelihood of miscarriage increase.
If the expectant mother has a negative Rh factor, then the good news about pregnancy can be overshadowed by the development of a conflict between her blood and the blood of the baby

Incompatibility of microflora

The reproductive system has its own microflora, inhabited by beneficial bacteria. But conditionally pathogenic microorganisms are present in the mucosa of the genitourinary organs. For one's own body, these microbes are not dangerous, since the human immune system strictly controls their number. However, harmless to one partner, they are dangerous to another. So, after unprotected contact, candidiasis (thrush) often develops, as evidenced by irritation and itching of the genital organs. Up to 3% of couples cannot conceive a child due to microflora conflict, when beneficial bacteria die under the influence of foreign microbes. Fertilization and gestation becomes an unattainable dream.

Genetic incompatibility

Leukocyte antigen (NLA) is present in human cells, acting as a defense against foreign agents. A similar set of chromosomes in both parents causes the rejection of the embryo by the female body, which perceives it as an underdeveloped or cancerous own cell (the immune system synthesizes antibodies). Healthy offspring are born only in pairs with different sets of parental chromosomes.
The resulting pregnancy with genetic incompatibility very rarely ends safely

What tests are given if partner incompatibility is suspected

With doubts about the birth or birth of children, they turn to doctors specializing in this problem. Doctors prescribe a number of studies that identify the cause of the couple's failures in the reproductive sphere:

Video: geneticist about medical genetic counseling

My close friends have been married for 12 years, they know each other even more. Both are successful in the profession and have no problems in material terms. Their life is overshadowed only by the absence of children. Behind her shoulders are a huge number of fruitless attempts to become parents, liters of material submitted for analysis and examinations that did not reveal anything. According to all indicators, Sasha and Katya are absolutely healthy. But there are no children. But there are acquaintances and even relatives who, at each meeting, are interested in when they will be called to the christening.
Despair is a feeling familiar to all who face insurmountable obstacles. They have no indications for IVF, and personal beliefs do not allow them to go against nature. Sasha has reconciled himself and is happy to nurse his nephews and children of friends. But Katya is a fighter! “If it seems to you that my hands dropped, you are mistaken. I bent over the tire iron "- this is about my girlfriend.
Recently came running, her eyes are shining, a smile from ear to ear. It turns out that a year ago they turned to the regional center of reproduction, where the husband did not agree to go for 5 years. He wanted and wants a baby, but he is tired of hearing once again: “We don’t see any problems with you.” A small town like ours (only 16 thousand inhabitants) is a poor prospect for the professional growth of a doctor, and narrow specialists can be counted on the fingers. So the gynecologist-andrologist-reproductologist in one person for all these years has never sent them to take compatibility tests. Yes, this happens in the 21st century.
So, in the regional clinic they promised to help. And they helped. The cause was determined and treatment was prescribed. The joy of a woman who at the age of 36 saw the cherished stripes is endless. There are 5 months of waiting for a meeting with the baby, the risks of the first trimester are behind, there are no complications, but Katyusha is under the special control of the attending physician. And Sasha is learning to swaddle his little blood. Everything will be fine. Now for sure. The main thing is not to give up.

Ways to overcome the incompatibility of partners during conception

With immunological incompatibility, also called biological:

• a course of immunostimulants is prescribed that increase the body's natural defenses. All drugs have a different mechanism of action, you can not do without consulting a doctor. When pregnancy occurs, the reception is immediately stopped so that the child, who has inherited half of the father's genes, is not rejected by the mother's body;
• Corticosteroids are recommended a week before ovulation. A hormone synthesized by the adrenal glands reduces the susceptibility of the human body to infections, inflammatory processes, and even stressful situations. Corticosteroids are used to prevent rejection of the fetus by the mother's body. It is mandatory to consult a doctor when choosing a drug;
• to prevent allergic reactions, antihistamines are used to stop allergy attacks. Dosage and frequency of use are adjusted by the attending physician.

If drug therapy does not help, they resort to artificial insemination, most often IVF or ICSI, in which a ready-made embryo is placed in the uterus. Intrauterine insemination is rarely prescribed.
Artificial insemination is a way to help couples who cannot conceive a child naturally

With genetic incompatibility, it is important to know that an absolute mismatch of indicators is extremely rare. In other cases, after the results of the couple's tests are deciphered by the geneticist, a comprehensive compatibility adjustment is carried out. Techniques have been developed to make conception and pregnancy possible for patients. But there will be no universal solutions, each treatment is prescribed individually.

In case of Rhesus conflict, the primiparous mother from the moment of treatment is put on a special account in the antenatal clinic. The level of antibodies in the blood is checked monthly. Complications during the first pregnancy due to Rhesus are usually not observed. And with the second and subsequent ones, in order to reduce the risk for mother and baby, 3 days before delivery, a dose of immunoglobulin is injected into the blood of a woman. This is necessary to inhibit the production of antibodies.
Immunoglobulin helps to avoid the consequences of Rhesus conflict

In inflammatory processes of microflora, treatment is prescribed to neutralize pathogens. The bacterial conflict practically does not act as a cause of incompatibility, but neglected inflammation and candidiasis negatively affect the general condition of the body. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of a malfunction in the microflora, a doctor is consulted. Tips and recommendations on antibiotic therapy are carried out by both partners.

Usually, after several years of active planning, searching for the reasons for not having a cherished pregnancy, a married couple decides to consult a geneticist. In our country, genetics consultation, unfortunately, is not as popular as in Europe and North America. But every year the percentage of couples that include a partner compatibility test in the initial stage of preparation for pregnancy is increasing.

Partner incompatibility

There are several types of incompatibility:

• immunological;
• incompatibility of partners for the Rh factor;
• genetic;
• psychological.

Immunological incompatibility of spouses

This type of incompatibility is a negative reaction of the woman's body to the partner's sperm. That is, the woman's immune system, perceiving the spermatozoa as alien and dangerous to the body, begins the production of "antibodies" that prevent the fertilization of the egg by spermatozoa.

In addition, antibodies in large quantities can occur not only in the female body. A healthy man's sperm can also contain sperm-destroying antibodies, and if some do manage to survive and reach an egg, there is a threat of a problem pregnancy or aborted pregnancy.

Therefore, both spouses are sent for examination. A man must pass a spermogram and a MAR test without fail. A spermogram is a semen donation to determine the number of spermatozoa, their motility, quality, viscosity and sperm liquefaction time. Also, this analysis shows the presence of viral diseases. The MAR test is aimed at detecting antibodies in the seminal fluid that prevent the fertilization of the egg. According to the WHO recommendation, the MAR test is best taken in conjunction with a spermogram. In order for the result to be accurate, it is necessary to take tests only in reproductive medicine clinics, that is, in clinics specializing in IVF. For analysis, a man must comply with certain requirements, namely, within 4-6 days before passing the seminal fluid for research, it is necessary to refrain from nicotine, taking alcoholic beverages and medicines, from sexual activity, hot baths and baths. The latter requirements are due to the fact that high temperatures adversely affect spermatozoa.

Definition of immunological incompatibility

To confirm the female "allergic" reaction to the partner's ejaculate, the following tests exist:

• Shuvarsky-Sims-Guner test;
• Kurzrock-Miller test.

All tests are carried out during the ovulatory period. Be sure to avoid taking medications at this time.

Sample "Shuvarsky-Sims-Guner" or a postcoital test is performed on the day of the expected ovulation and 4-5 hours after intercourse. The analysis is taken by taking mucus from the posterior fornix of the vagina and the cervical canal, after which the behavior of spermatozoa is examined under a microscope. If the spermatozoa make oscillatory movements instead of translational movements, this means that antisperm antibodies are present in the cervical mucus. Next, a quantitative assessment is carried out. If there are more than 10 motile sperm, the test is positive. If less than 10, the result is considered questionable and needs to be repeated. If motile spermatozoa are completely absent or make pendulum movements, the test is negative.

Kurzrock-Miller test very similar to the postcoital test, but the test material is taken directly from both partners. In addition, the couple must refrain from “personal life” for several days before the test, refuse to take alcohol and medicines.

There are two ways to conduct the test - direct and cross.

The direct method is a study of the interaction of cervical mucus and sperm, which are combined in a test tube. The cross method uses biomaterial from donors who have children.

On the day of ovulation, mucus is taken from the cervix for analysis. It is placed between two glasses. Next, they take the biomaterial of the spouse and the donor and place it in the gaps formed. Within six hours at a temperature of 37 ° C, mucus interacts with sperm. The quality indicators of the husband's ejaculate are checked in the same way using the cervical fluid of the spouse and the donor woman.

If at least half of the spermatozoa do not die and remain active during interaction with the biomaterial, the result of the test is considered positive.

Unfortunately, immunological infertility is currently poorly understood. For gynecologists, andrologists and doctors associated with the reproductive system, the emergence of antibodies that interfere with successful fertilization still remains a mystery. Not always carried out treatment of a married couple helps to achieve the desired goal - pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child. But still, there is a cure.

Methods for the treatment of immunological incompatibility

• The first method is aimed at reducing the sensitivity of the female body to sperm. Condoms must be used for several months.
• The second method is taking antihistamines.
• The third method is the appointment of various doses of corticosteroids in the week before ovulation.
• The fourth method is the procedure of artificial insemination, IVF or ICSI. Artificial insemination is a relatively simple, safe and cheap alternative to expensive IVF and ICSI methods.

The procedure must be carried out on the eve of ovulation. The sperm of the spouse is introduced into the uterine cavity with the help of a catheter. Artificial insemination makes it possible to exclude the cervical canal, where, with immunological incompatibility, mucus is formed, which has a detrimental effect on spermatozoa, and thereby increase the chances of success.

There are two types of artificial insemination. The first is carried out using the raw sperm of the spouse. This method has a low result and carries the risk of an allergic reaction.

The second method is the introduction of processed spermatozoa into the uterine cavity. Fresh sperm is placed in a special centrifuge in which the spermatozoa are separated. After that, they are placed in saline. This manipulation is repeated three times. It is this processed mixture that is injected into the uterus. This method is safer and more efficient. On average, after artificial insemination, pregnancy occurs in 10-12% of couples. This procedure can be repeated no more than 3-4 times, since after the third time the chance of getting pregnant drops sharply.

IVF or in vitro fertilization is one of the ways to treat infertility. The essence of the technique is that the egg is fertilized and develops outside the body of the expectant mother. On the 2nd - 5th day after fertilization, an embryo is already transferred into the uterus, which further develops as in natural fertilization. Usually, at least two embryos are transferred to increase the chances of a positive result. After the embryo transfer, two weeks later, the woman donates blood for hCG to confirm the onset of pregnancy or its absence.

The main complication after IVF is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome against the background of the use of ovulation stimulants.

The ICSI method is very similar to IVF and is usually carried out as part of it. This technique is prescribed when the sperm of the spouse is of poor quality. The most active, high-quality and viable spermatozoon is selected from the ejaculate sample, which is injected directly into the mature egg using a special needle. The procedure takes place under the full control of a specialist and, unlike in vitro fertilization, is no longer so close to natural conception.

Incompatibility of spouses by Rh factor

This is the reaction of a woman's immune system to a fetus that has a different Rh factor and blood group. This type of incompatibility is not significant. Since usually, with any combination of blood groups and Rh factors, pregnancy can occur.

Rh factor is an antigen (protein) found on the surface of red blood cells. Erythrocytes are red blood cells. If this antigen is present in the blood, then the person has a positive Rh factor. If not, then the person is Rh negative.

Women with a negative Rh factor are at risk, since a positive Rh factor of the father, as a dominant trait, is transmitted to the child. The erythrocytes of the fetus easily enter the mother's blood through the placenta, in turn, the woman's immune system begins to produce antibodies to fight the red blood cells of the embryo. The result of incompatibility may be an early miscarriage, fetal death at a later date, or the appearance of a hemolytic disease in a child.

A woman with a negative Rh blood, when planning a pregnancy, must definitely check the level of antibodies in the blood to the Rh factor. Starting from the 7th week of the onset of pregnancy, strict control over the level of antibodies is necessary. Within 72 hours after birth, it is necessary to introduce anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin.

Genetic incompatibility

Genetic incompatibility of spouses is a conflict at the chromosomal level.

In the body of each person, there are HLA genes or tissue antigens. They are divided into two classes. Genetic incompatibility is the similarity of class II HLA genes in spouses.

HLA II or leukocyte antigen is a protein that is present on the surface of every human cell.

Protein function:

• detection of a virus that promotes cell mutation;
• recognition of a bacterium with its own genotype;
• detection of structural changes in one's own cell.

Almost every day, some cells in our body undergo mutations, but destroyed in time, they are not dangerous. Otherwise, cell mutation threatens oncology.

A child's HLA genes are made up of the father's HLA genes and the mother's HLA genes. Most often, these genes are not similar to each other. In this case, when the embryo is implanted to the walls of the uterus, the mother's body perceives the child as a half "foreign" formation and begins to produce antibodies to the father's HLA II genes. These specific antibodies are aimed at protecting and preserving the embryo. That is, thanks to them, the female immune system stops considering the fetus as a change in its own cells, and pregnancy continues to develop safely.

If the HLA of the spouses are similar, the female body does not perceive the “paternal” component in a small amount. The immune system sees mutated (oncological) cells of the mother in the fetus and begins to fight them. As a result, even before the onset of the first trimester, either a miscarriage or a missed pregnancy occurs.

Signs and detection of genetic incompatibility of spouses

The diagnosis of "genetic incompatibility" is very rare in spouses who are not related. If the pregnancy is interrupted or a missed pregnancy occurs, and the attending physician has not identified any infectious, immunological or other causes of miscarriage, the couple should consult a geneticist.

When analyzing for compatibility, a couple takes blood from a vein. From the venous blood of each spouse, pure DNA is isolated, which is subjected to in-depth analysis, after which it undergoes a comparative study. The analysis takes approximately two weeks.

Complete incompatibility is diagnosed extremely rarely, and, unfortunately, nothing can be done about it. Most often, partial incompatibility is fixed. Under the supervision of an experienced geneticist, there are ways to regulate it at all three stages: from planning to pregnancy.

One treatment option is medication. Depending on the individual situation of the couple, spouses are sent for IVF or ICSI.

Psychological incompatibility of spouses

When planning a pregnancy, a very important aspect is the "climate" in the family. Everyone knows that our emotional state affects how our body works.

Spousal dissonance can be caused by many factors. For example, material wealth, nationality and religion, relations with relatives, social status and, of course, the physiological aspect have a great influence on the relationship of spouses and the emotional state of each of them. The inability of a couple to hear each other, understand the problem and solve it, leads to the accumulation of resentment, negativity, disappointment in their “soul mate”. But it is the emotional state, especially during the planning of pregnancy, that affects the functioning of the body.

A negative attitude towards your partner, everyday problems, material well-being, a woman's desire to combine a career with motherhood, and a negative attitude of a spouse and relatives towards this desire, all this can cause infertility at a psychological level. Scientists have proven that it is often the "stretched" relationship in a couple that is one of the reasons for the appearance of "anti-sperm" antibodies in both the female and male bodies. In addition, the psychological factor can also affect the female hormonal background, and even poor patency of the pipes.

The main step towards overcoming psychological incompatibility is the recognition of her spouses, and the desire to overcome. Every time you have a problem, try to put yourself in your partner's shoes. Think about whether it is worth getting offended at all and starting quarrels over trifles. Women are encouraged to tell the man directly what they expect from him. Men don't take hints. They need to set clear goals. Men should also remember that his wife, just because she belongs to the "fair sex", is not required to carry all the housework. Distribute responsibilities, she cooks - he washes dishes, she does wet cleaning - he vacuums. You should not have sex just for the sake of conceiving a child, relax and have fun. Talk more and spend time together.

Summing up

The emergence of new life into the world is a complex, still quite mysterious process. Yes, modern methods of treating incompatibility of spouses are not always effective, but medicine does not stand still, and every day the secret of human birth is gradually revealed to us. In addition, there are many examples when a couple with a disappointing diagnosis of "infertility" miraculously has a child without treatment and medical interventions.

If you are still not able to get pregnant, in no case should you despair and get hung up on this. Very often, spouses, in a fit of anger caused by hopelessness, begin to blame each other for failures. Stop, calm down and think that your loved one is next to you. You must support each other. And then you will succeed.

Video - Rhesus conflict during pregnancy

Such a concept as incompatibility of partners has been used in medical practice for a long time. But the importance of microflora for healthy sexual relations and the preservation of the reproductive functions of men and women has become apparent only in recent decades. Dysbiosis in one of the partners can have a significant impact on both health and the quality of relationships in general.

Before talking about ways to solve the problem, let's dwell in more detail on the very concept of "incompatibility of microflora", its signs and causes.

What is the incompatibility of microflora

It cannot be denied that the body of each person is distinguished by certain individual characteristics. Therefore, different microflora in men and women is a natural state. This is due to anatomical and physiological differences.

But talking about the incompatibility of microflora only because of its individuality or uniqueness is not entirely correct. After all, the fact that in order to continue the race, men and women must adapt to each other at various levels (physical, biochemical, microbiological), is inherent in them by nature. However, the adaptation of partners at the microbiological level is possible only with a healthy microflora of two people. When one of the partners violates the quantitative or qualitative composition of microorganisms that inhabit the mucous membranes of the genital organs, the adaptation mechanism itself is also violated. It is in such cases that we are talking about incompatibility at the level of microflora.

Reasons for incompatibility

Mutual adaptation of the microflora of partners can be disrupted due to dysbacteriosis that has developed in a man or woman. Such a violation can occur due to various factors, but the most common of them are the following:

• physiological hormonal changes in a woman (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause) or hormonal disorders caused by any disease;
• sexually transmitted diseases;
• inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system;
• course of treatment with antibacterial drugs, passed in the recent past;
• transferred infectious disease;
• early postpartum period in a woman;
• hygiene of the genitals using means unsuitable for these purposes and other violations of the rules of intimate care.

Signs of incompatibility of microflora of partners

Normally, the process of adaptation of partners at the level of microflora goes unnoticed and does not take much time, as a rule, this happens after several sexual intercourses. But if there are problems with the microflora in a woman or a man, adaptation slows down, and partners may feel such unpleasant signs as:

• constantly present irritation in the vulva (itching, burning, pain, more or less pronounced swelling and redness in the intimate area);
• uncharacteristic discharge (for example, copious, with an unpleasant odor, changed color or texture);
• discomfort in the mucous membrane of the genital organs (permanent, during intercourse or only after intimacy);
• inability of a woman to receive satisfaction from intimacy With a long course of dysbiosis, microtraumas may appear on the mucous membrane of the external genital organs, which become a gateway for pathogenic bacteria. In turn, secondary infections are sometimes accompanied by rashes.
• Without treatment, all of the above symptoms can worsen and seriously impair the quality of life of men and women, reduce their self-esteem. Thus, what began as an incompatibility of the microflora can sooner or later provoke psychological disorders and even the separation of the couple.

It should be remembered that the exchange of microorganisms occurs with every unprotected sexual contact. Therefore, the symptoms of incompatibility of the microflora of partners can be found in themselves even by those couples whose relationships have been in a dozen years.

How to get rid of incompatibility of microflora

To normalize and resume the process of adaptation of the microflora of partners, it is first necessary to eliminate the cause of dysbiosis. To this end, the couple is assigned a comprehensive examination, which allows you to identify the source of the problem.

To correct the already disturbed quantitative and qualitative composition of the microflora, sexual partners require additional treatment.

If the balance of the intimate microflora in women is disturbed, a specialist may prescribe a new generation drug, Lactonorm ® . It is designed taking into account the characteristics of the female body and is designed to normalize the microflora in a natural way - by populating the vaginal mucosa with live lactobacilli. Thanks to the topical application of Laktonorm®, beneficial bacteria enter the site of the problem without losing their properties, as happens when lactobacilli pass through the gastrointestinal tract.

According to statistics, every sixth married couple in Russia has problems conceiving. And there can be many reasons for this. In 30% of cases, the cause of a couple's childlessness becomes. Similarly, in 30% of other cases it is . In 10% of cases, doctors cannot determine the cause of infertility at all. And the rest of the couples are often talking about the incompatibility of partners.

At the same time, it must be clearly understood that the incompatibility of partners may be of a genetic nature, and may also be associated with differences in the blood group of future parents. In both cases, it will occur due to the presence in the woman's body of a huge amount of antibodies that perceive the fetus as a foreign object and try to fight it, causing a miscarriage or fading of pregnancy. But don't be afraid. Pregnancy with incompatibility possible in many cases. The main thing is to deal with the problem and turn to a good specialist in time for diagnosis and treatment.

Incompatibility at conception

The immunological incompatibility factor causes infertility in many couples. At the same time, both partners are absolutely healthy. But a woman cannot give birth to a child due to the fact that immediately after conception, antibodies begin to be produced in her body that kill her own child. This happens when the father's antigens are too similar to the mother's. And the mother's body does not begin to produce protective antibodies necessary for normal pregnancy. Instead, the woman's immune system perceives the embryo as a foreign cell.

In this case, conception often occurs successfully. And then, when the fetus is fixed in the uterus and begins to develop, its rejection occurs, which ends in a miscarriage or fading of pregnancy. And the greater the genetic similarity between the parents, the greater the likelihood of immunological conflict. Termination of pregnancy in such couples occurs constantly. And after several unsuccessful attempts, the spouses are necessarily sent for a consultation with a geneticist.

To diagnose the immunological compatibility of partners, they need to conduct a number of biological tests: the Kurzrock-Miller test for the penetration of spermatozoa into the cervical mucus during the period of ovulation in a woman, the Shuvarsky-Guner test with a study of the contents of the cervical canal and the posterior fornix of the vagina for the presence of antisperm bodies and others. Before passing the tests and additional donation of blood from a vein, the couple must stop taking all hormonal drugs, as they can distort the results of the studies.

Often, all methods of treating immunological incompatibility of partners do not give a sufficient effect, but still doctors insist on undergoing therapy. A decrease in sensitization in a woman is facilitated by condom therapy for six months, as well as taking antihistamines - tavigil, loratadine and others. In addition, immunosuppressive methods based on the administration of corticosteroids and immunostimulants are used. With the so-called sperm allergy in a woman, intrauterine injection of husband's or donor's sperm is often practiced. But it is rather difficult to treat immunological infertility and it is possible to achieve a positive result only in very rare cases.

Rh incompatibility

Unlike immunological incompatibility, it is easy to foresee and fairly easy to prevent. Here we are talking about the reaction of the woman's immune system to the fetus, which has a different blood type and Rh factor. Most often, the incompatibility of the blood group at conception is determined precisely by the presence or absence of the Rh factor in the baby's blood group, and much less often directly by the blood group.

Women with a negative Rh factor fall into the risk group, since if the husband has a Rh-facto positive, then this dominant trait is most often transmitted to the baby. And this means that when the child's blood enters the mother's blood, the woman's immune system begins to produce antibodies aimed at rejecting the alien fetus. Getting through the placenta to the child, antibodies attack his red blood cells. A large amount of bilirubin appears in the blood, due to which the baby's skin turns yellowish. The destruction of red blood cells leads to disruption of the liver and spleen, and later the occurrence of severe anemia in the fetus. This can affect the functioning of his brain, speech and hearing. In the most severe cases, intrauterine fetal death or miscarriage is possible. At the same time, the gestational age absolutely does not affect the likelihood of an Rhesus conflict.

To avoid an Rhesus conflict, both partners must pass the main ones. The standard set of tests necessarily includes checking the blood type of both spouses. Thus, future parents can learn about the incompatibility of Rh factors in advance. And they will be able to more closely monitor the course of the pregnancy, check for the presence of antibodies in the woman’s blood more often and respond quickly if the child is in danger. Modern medicine has a wide range of opportunities to help such pregnant women, ranging from artificial suppression of antibody production in a woman's body to early delivery with a blood transfusion to a child.

As a rule, in nulliparous women, Rhesus conflict occurs less frequently. And in order to prevent its occurrence in the future, within 72 hours after childbirth, a woman is given a special vaccine that binds aggressive antibodies. Such prophylaxis can be carried out during the next pregnancy. The main thing is to remember your problem and take action. Then the problem of incompatibility with the father of the unborn child will not prevent you from becoming a mother.