Subscribe
Infertility
Can immunological infertility be treated?
Immunological infertility is treatable. There are several main methods for treating immunological infertility. The first method is the blocking therapy, which involves using condoms for 3-6 months to make the sperm antigen antibodies disappear, thereby increasing the conception rate through alternate day intercourse. Many women are able to conceive through this method. The second method is in vitro fertilization, which is chosen if there is a high density of antisperm antibodies in the woman's body, making in vitro fertilization necessary for conception. This method generally has a high success rate. The third method is intrauterine artificial insemination. When there are many antisperm antibodies in the woman’s cervical mucus, this method involves treating the male’s semen outside the body, selecting high-quality sperm for artificial insemination. The fourth method is immunosuppressive therapy, which primarily involves the use of corticosteroids. However, the use of these hormones often causes some adverse damage to the body.
How to treat infertility?
The treatment methods for infertility primarily include medication, surgical treatment, and assisted reproductive technologies. For couples with infertility, it is essential to adopt appropriate treatment methods based on different causes and conditions. Medication is a commonly used method, mainly targeting conditions such as oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, and reproductive tract infections in men, as well as menstrual disorders and reproductive tract infections in women. Surgical treatment mainly targets conditions such as varicocele and vas deferens obstruction in men, and uterine fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome in women. Assisted reproductive technologies are mainly used for some patients who do not respond well to medication or surgery, such as men with idiopathic oligospermia and women with blocked fallopian tubes, requiring these technologies for treatment.
Can infertility ovulate?
I would like to discuss the causes of female infertility. The main causes of female infertility are ovulatory disorders and fallopian tube factors. If infertility is primarily due to fallopian tube factors, the patient does not have ovulatory disorders and can ovulate normally. Many cases of infertility are due to ovulatory disorders, which may be caused by ovarian dysfunction leading to persistent anovulation. Some are due to ovarian diseases, underdeveloped ovaries, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian failure, and functional ovarian tumors. Or it could be due to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis causing anovulation. It could also be due to endocrine metabolic diseases, such as hyperfunction or hypofunction of the thyroid or adrenal cortex, which can lead to anovulation. Therefore, in women with infertility caused by fallopian tube factors, ovulation can occur; if it is caused by ovulatory disorders, it involves ineffective ovulation or an inability to ovulate.
What are the symptoms of infertility?
There are many causes of infertility, so depending on different reasons, the clinical manifestations also vary. For instance, some women suffer from infertility due to abnormal ovulation, which could manifest as abnormalities in the menstrual cycle such as prolonged absence of menstruation, like in polycystic ovary syndrome, or irregular vaginal bleeding. Some women have uterine factors that cause infertility, such as common post-multiple intrauterine operations leading to intrauterine adhesions, where a woman might experience reduced menstrual flow or even amenorrhea, accompanied by painful menstruation. Additionally, infertility in some women might be due to cervical factors, possibly presenting with thick vaginal discharge, contact bleeding, or blood-tinged discharge. Partially, some women might have ovarian endometriomas, which can cause severe painful menstruation and increased menstrual volume, among other symptoms.
The difference between infertility and sterility
In clinical practice, we often mention infertility and sterility, so what is the difference between them? Let us take a look. Infertility refers to a condition where a couple has regular sexual intercourse, does not take any contraceptive measures, and the duration reaches over a year, yet the female cannot become pregnant; this is called infertility. If the male can cause the female to become pregnant, or has previously impregnated a woman, but she cannot carry a baby to term, we call this sterility. This is the difference between infertility and sterility.
How to regulate infertility caused by cold in the body?
Patients with cold-induced infertility can eat some foods that expel cold, such as adzuki beans, Chinese yam, coix seeds, and jujube, which can effectively help eliminate cold from the body. They can also drink chrysanthemum tea, fat sea, and honeysuckle tea, which can help regulate the body. It is also important to avoid cold, stimulating, and greasy foods, and it is recommended to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to aid digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, methods such as steam sauna, soaking feet in warm water, cupping, and moxibustion can effectively help expel cold and improve symptoms of infertility.
Do Nabothian cysts of the cervix cause infertility?
Women with cervical Nabothian cysts will not become infertile because of them. Cervical Nabothian cysts are actually cysts of the cervical glands. Abnormal substances, such as squamous epithelium during the healing process, have entered the gland ducts, blocking them and preventing the contents of the cysts from escaping. They merely indicate the squamo-columnar junction of the cervix and do not affect the cervical canal or cause it to narrow, nor do they affect vaginal secretions or female infertility. However, if a woman has a particularly large single cervical cyst or multiple cervical gland cysts, they may cause cervical hypertrophy. When the cervix is enlarged, there might be hyperplasia in the interstitial part and possible formation of fibrous tissue. This could potentially affect the dilation of the cervix during childbirth.
How to deal with infertility caused by cold in the body?
Patients with cold-induced infertility often have a close relation to their living environment, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Keeping feet in warm water for about 10 to 30 minutes can effectively improve blood circulation and metabolism, promoting better blood flow and removing blockages in channels and collaterals, which can effectively alleviate cold constitution. Additionally, practices like scraping therapy and acupuncture can remove dampness from the body. Dietarily, it is important to avoid spicy, stimulating, and cold foods to prevent exacerbating the condition. Consuming warm-natured foods such as beef, lamb, red dates, brown sugar, and donkey-hide gelatin can effectively improve symptoms of a cold constitution.
How long does it take to be considered infertile when trying to conceive?
Pregnancy for women requires a certain amount of time to be successful, and if one cannot become pregnant in the short term, it does not necessarily mean infertility. It could be due to irregular ovulation or incorrect timing of sexual activity. In clinical practice, it is generally considered that if one has been trying to conceive normally without deliberate contraception and still cannot become pregnant after a year, then infertility should be diagnosed. For cases where conception hasn't occurred after a year of trying, examinations should be carried out for both partners to determine if there are any pathological factors. First, the male partner should have chromosome and sperm analysis; Second, the female partner should be checked for chromosomal infections, immune factors, rheumatology factors, etc. After clearly identifying the reasons, interventions should be made as much as possible to guide normal conception.
Can menstrual irregularity lead to infertility?
Menstrual irregularity simply indicates that ovulation is abnormal, and it does not necessarily mean that there is no ovulation. If ovulation occurs, there is a possibility of pregnancy. Therefore, having irregular periods does not mean pregnancy is impossible, although the chances of conception may be lower. Normally, a woman ovulates once within a month, but if her periods are irregular, it is difficult to pinpoint when ovulation occurs. Generally, about 14 days after ovulation, a normal menstrual period should occur. If there is an extended absence of menstruation, it usually suggests that ovulation has not occurred. If there is a desire for childbirth, treatment to regulate menstruation and promote ovulation may be necessary, as it would be quite difficult to conceive otherwise.