Infertility struggles are heartbreaking for couples who want to have a baby. Sometimes, figuring out why the couple is having difficulty conceiving can be challenging. It can be emotionally, physically, and financially exhausting. But many couples will happily endure multiple tests if it will help make their dream of a having a baby come true.
Amber Price and her husband, John, live in Sydney, Australia, and met on Tinder in 2015. Amber struggled with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis from a young age but dreamed of becoming a mother. As she and John dealt with infertility issues, they were shocked to discover that an antibody in John’s sperm was likely preventing her from becoming pregnant.
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Amber’s health improved, so the couple decided to grow their family.
Per the New York Post, Amber told news.com.au the couple was thrilled when Amber’s health seemed to be getting better with a new treatment, and it was time to try to have a baby. The couple, however, seemed to be struggling with infertility.
Although most doctors said they needed to try to conceive for at least a year before undergoing testing, Amber said her past medical history was enough for a doctor to approve earlier fertility testing.
The testing all came back OK.
Amber said that nothing remarkable was showing up on tests, and she and her husband became concerned. “I couldn’t help but think ‘Oh, my God, what’s wrong with us?’” she said. “My husband was also having a downward spiral.”
The couple decided to seek help from a naturopath clinic. Francesca Naish at The Jocelyn Centre recommended John take a test to analyze his sperm. The immunobead test checks for sperm antibodies and cost about $315. The results were surprising.
An antibody in John’s sperm was causing the problem.
Amber explained that John has an antibody in his sperm that is relatively common in men. The presence of this antibody was making conception difficult. Friberg Fertility explains that several factors can cause the antibody.
“This initiation of sperm antibody production can be seen after infections and severe testicular trauma. It can also occur after surgery that damages the 'blood-testis barrier' such as inguinal hernia operations in young boys. However, in some patients we cannot find a cause for the antibody production,” the clinic explains.
The couple continued their journey with in-vitro fertilization.
According to the couple, they believe John was likely injured at some point playing contact sports. Even though they found the probable source of their fertility struggle, they didn’t conceive immediately. Amber had two miscarriages in the more than 700 days it took for the couple to conceive their daughter.
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Amber and John welcomed Freya in August 2023.
The new mom shared her delight on Instagram, announcing the birth of her first child — their rainbow baby — who she said shares a namesake with the goddess of fertility.
“We thought the name was very fitting for our little girl considering the fertility journey to get our beautiful little love. Born on 41 weeks exactly," Amber wrote in her post. "She is still very tiny. Fitting only in [preemie] nappies! We are in awe finally being parents. We love the sleepless nights, the heightened emotions, the poopy nappies. This little person is our greatest achievement as a couple. I’m proud of us.”
