Female Autoimmune Disorders with Infertility: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Autoimmunity is a condition in which the immune system cannot recognize the self from nonself-antigens. Autoimmunity is relatively more common in females than males. The process of embryo implantation is considered the most significant restricting factor in female reproduction. The immunological system of the females may affect the success or failure of pregnancy by its effect on extremely important steps from ovulation to implantation processes, thus ensuring the importance of autoimmunity for women in sub-fertility. The association between autoimmunity and female reproduction receives increased attention nowadays. A successful conception is a result of multiple complex interactions between the developed embryo and the receptive uterus and is usually under immune-hormonal control. In certain circumstances, the female ovary can be a target of an autoimmune attack, like some organ-specific or systemic autoimmune disorders subsequently resulting in clinically significant ovarian dysfunction, implantation failure, and sub-fertility. Consequently, the effect of a specific auto-antibody on the etiology of infertility remains unknown. This review focused on auto-antibodies that may affect female fertility.