after vasectomy the testes continue to make sperm. when the sperm cells die they are absorbed by the body much like unused sperm in a nonvasectomized man. nevertheless many vasectomized men develop immune reactions to sperm although current evidence indicates that these reactions do not cause any harm. ordinarily sperm do not come into contact with immune cells so they do not elicit an immune response. but vasectomy breaches the barriers that separate immune cells from sperm and many men develop anti-sperm antibodies after undergoing the procedure. this has given rise to concern on the part of doctors and researchers because immune reactions against parts of one's own body sometimes cause disease. rheumatoid arthritis juvenile diabetes and multiple sclerosis are just some of the illnesses suspected or known to be caused by immune reactions of this type. immune reactions can also contribute to the development of atherosclerosis the clogging of arteries that leads to heart attacks. in the late 1970s after a study of 10 monkeys showed an increased risk of atherosclerosis in vasectomized animals doctors became concerned that vasectomy might increase the risk of heart disease in men. other more persuasive research results however indicated that these concerns were not warranted. in particular one study found no evidence that vasectomized men were more likely than others to develop heart disease or any other immune illnesses.
are there immune reactions to sperm after a vasectomy?