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Infertility
Infertility is a condition.
Infertility refers to the condition where, after a couple has married and cohabited for more than a year, despite having regular sexual intercourse without any contraception, they are unable to conceive naturally. There are many factors that can cause infertility, including factors related to the male, the female, or both. Male factors account for about 40% of infertility cases, female factors account for about 50%, and combined factors account for about 10%. Female infertility includes ovarian infertility, fallopian tube infertility, uterine infertility, cervical infertility, vaginal infertility, immunological infertility, and more.
Can infertility be cured?
Infertility cannot be universally treated; it requires a specific analysis of each case. For instance, infertility caused by congenital factors, like congenital absence of testicles or uterus, is often difficult to treat. However, infertility resulting from acquired causes, such as sexual dysfunction, abnormal male semen, uterine fibroids, or ovarian cysts in females, can often be treated with medication, surgery, or assisted reproductive technologies like in-vitro fertilization, and in many cases can be cured.
Can biochemical energy eliminate infertility?
Having one biochemical pregnancy does not necessarily mean that the patient is infertile. Generally, after one biochemical pregnancy, with appropriate adjustment, it is possible to have a normal pregnancy next time. The causes of biochemical pregnancy result from natural selection, most commonly due to defects in the fertilized egg itself, insufficient function of the ovarian corpus luteum, abnormalities in the endometrium, underdeveloped uterus, or conditions such as uterine fibroids or endometrial tuberculosis. These factors can affect the implantation of the fertilized egg. It is advised to undergo thorough pre-pregnancy checks before attempting to conceive again.
Classification of the Causes of Infertility
For infertility, it is important to conduct relevant tests as early as possible while young, to receive effective treatment promptly, and to complete childbirth at the earliest. Firstly, male testing should be conducted because the probability of male infertility is also high, and the tests for males are relatively simpler. Afterwards, the causes in females should be investigated, such as monitoring ovulation and conducting endocrine tests for ovulation. Then, the condition of the endometrium should be examined, and a hysterosalpingography should be performed between the third and seventh days of a clean menstrual period to see if this factor contributes to infertility. Subsequently, various biochemical tests, such as immune function and pre-thrombotic state, should also be considered.
What are the reasons for infertility despite having intercourse during the ovulation period?
The reasons for not getting pregnant despite having intercourse during the ovulation period primarily involve considering whether there is an issue with the male partner’s sperm. Additionally, although it is the ovulation period, the development of the follicles must also be examined. If the follicles are undeveloped, or if they are very small, pregnancy is unlikely in such cases. Moreover, the condition of the fallopian tubes should be checked, as both the egg and the sperm need to travel through these tubes. If the fallopian tubes are blocked, it will prevent pregnancy because the sperm and egg cannot meet, leading to infertility.
Is soaking feet useful for infertility?
Whether soaking feet is beneficial for patients with infertility should be analyzed based on specific circumstances, rather than generalized. For patients with a cold uterus, soaking feet can increase blood circulation, relieve the coldness of the uterus, and facilitate the implantation of the embryo. However, the duration of soaking should not be too long, nor should the water be too hot, as this may affect the survival and development of the embryo. For patients who do not have a cold uterus, there is no need to soak their feet. It is advisable to consult a professional doctor about whether to soak feet or not. Ideally, consult a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner to diagnose your physical condition before deciding if you should soak your feet and for how long.
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.