The difference between infertility and sterility

Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
Updated on December 14, 2024
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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 28sec home-news-image

The seven items of infertility are as follows:

In the examination items for infertility, the seven-item infertility tests are often mentioned. These seven tests include: anti-sperm antibody test, anti-endometrial antibody test, anti-zona pellucida antibody test, anti-trophoblast antibody test, anti-chorionic gonadotropin antibody test, anti-zinc ion antibody test, and anti-ovarian antibody test. Each of these tests targets different conditions. The anti-sperm antibody test and anti-endometrial antibody test are mainly used for the auxiliary diagnosis of immunological infertility. The anti-trophoblast antibody test is mainly used for diagnosing recurrent miscarriage. The anti-chorionic antibody test is primarily for the diagnostic examination of threatened miscarriage. The anti-zona pellucida antibody test is used mainly for the auxiliary diagnosis of premature ovarian failure. The anti-ovarian antibody test is used for conditions such as premature ovarian failure, infertility, menstrual disorders, etc. The anti-chorionic antibody test plays a role in the diagnosis of threatened miscarriage, and the anti-zinc ion antibody test is used for recurrent miscarriage and stillbirth and other related diseases.

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Why does adenomyosis cause infertility?

Under normal circumstances, adenomyosis is mainly due to factors such as the elasticity of muscle fibers in the uterine muscle layer, leading to abnormal enlargement of the uterus. This causes severe complications such as increased menstrual flow and painful menstruation. There are no specific treatment methods. During the onset of adenomyosis, it might affect the normal menstrual cycle of women, leading to increased menstrual flow or irregular menstruation. This can easily interfere with the normal development and ovulation of follicles, therefore significantly impacting normal conception. Once diagnosed, it is also necessary to actively treat the symptoms to avoid delaying normal conception.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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Do you test for TPPA for infertility?

TPPA testing is a diagnostic test for syphilis, used in cases of infertility. Typically, general hospitals do not include syphilis testing. If there is a high risk of syphilis, such as if either partner has a history of unprotected sexual intercourse, or if syphilis is suspected during pre-marital, prenatal, or pre-pregnancy examinations finding TP positive, a request can be made for TPPA testing. Diagnosis of syphilis requires both TPPA and RPR titers; the condition is assessed based on these two indicators.

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What to check for infertility

What tests should be done for infertility? The tests for males are much simpler compared to those for females, primarily focusing on semen analysis as well as prostate and ultrasound examinations. For females, besides examining the development of the internal and external genitalia, checking for inflammation and inflammatory masses, and assessing breast lactation, several specialized tests can also be conducted. These include evaluating the patency of the fallopian tubes by hysterosalpingography, ovarian function tests including basal body temperature (BBT) measurements, vaginal cytology, endometrial examination, and female hormone assessments. Immunological tests include checking for anti-endometrial, anti-ovarian, anti-trophoblast, and anti-sperm antibodies, among others. Ultrasound examinations help in detecting pelvic tumors and uterine conditions, and also in monitoring follicle development and ovulation. Other tests include hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and an analysis of chromosomal abnormalities in the couple.