What tests are done for secondary infertility?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 30, 2024
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The most common cause of secondary infertility in women is blocked fallopian tubes. In this case, a hysterosalpingography with iodine oil should be performed to understand the patency of the fallopian tubes and the specific location of the blockage, which can guide future treatment. Additionally, if a woman has abnormal vaginal discharge, a routine gynecological examination should be conducted to check for any cervical lesions. A vaginal secretion test should be performed to see if vaginal inflammation is affecting normal pregnancy. Some women experience infertility after having an abortion or induced abortion, and for these women, it's also worth considering whether uterine issues are causing secondary infertility. A hysteroscopy can be done to investigate this. When a woman experiences secondary infertility, her sexual partner or spouse should also be examined to assess sperm quality and any potential obstacles in the sperm delivery pathway.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 12sec home-news-image

What tests are done for secondary infertility?

The most common cause of secondary infertility in women is blocked fallopian tubes. In this case, a hysterosalpingography with iodine oil should be performed to understand the patency of the fallopian tubes and the specific location of the blockage, which can guide future treatment. Additionally, if a woman has abnormal vaginal discharge, a routine gynecological examination should be conducted to check for any cervical lesions. A vaginal secretion test should be performed to see if vaginal inflammation is affecting normal pregnancy. Some women experience infertility after having an abortion or induced abortion, and for these women, it's also worth considering whether uterine issues are causing secondary infertility. A hysteroscopy can be done to investigate this. When a woman experiences secondary infertility, her sexual partner or spouse should also be examined to assess sperm quality and any potential obstacles in the sperm delivery pathway.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
59sec home-news-image

What should infertile women check for?

The examination of infertile women mainly includes the following aspects. First is the physical examination, which covers a general examination and an examination of the internal and external genitalia. Through the physical examination, it can be determined whether the female sexual characteristics are normal and whether there are any abnormalities in the development of the external genitalia. The second type of examination is auxiliary examination, the most common of which are blood tests and ultrasound exams. Blood tests can provide information on whether there is any infection, the type of blood, and the endocrine situation. They can also examine chromosomal conditions. Through ultrasound, it is possible to find out if there are any abnormalities in the uterine adnexa. Additionally, there are some special tests, including ovarian function tests, fallopian tube patency tests, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and post-coital tests, among others.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
58sec home-news-image

How many abortions can lead to infertility?

How many abortions lead to infertility is uncertain. Some people become infertile after just one abortion, while others may still be able to conceive normally after four or five abortions. This varies greatly depending on the individual's constitution, their condition after the procedure, and the doctor performing the surgery. Some people have weaker immune systems and may experience infections within the uterine cavity after surgery; such conditions can easily lead to uterine adhesions and blockages in the fallopian tubes, resulting in infertility. Others with stronger immune systems can recover quickly after surgery, generally without impacting their ability to conceive. Inexperienced surgeons might cause damage to the endometrium and uterine adhesions, which can also lead to infertility.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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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.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
1min 6sec home-news-image

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.