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Infertility
Is Chinese medicine effective for infertility?
We discuss the causes and mechanisms of infertility in Chinese medicine, which are mainly due to kidney deficiency, liver stagnation, blood stasis, and obstruction by phlegm and dampness. Chinese medicine treatment is a powerful method for infertility. For many cases of unexplained infertility or situations where there is a chance to conceive but no conception has occurred, Chinese medicine treatments focus on nourishing kidney energy, enhancing essence and blood, nurturing the Conception and Governing vessels, and regulating menstruation. Through syndrome differentiation and treatment, we warm those who are cold in the womb, warm those with a cold spleen and stomach, relax those with urgent Conception vessel pulse, open up those with congested liver qi, resolve those with abundant phlegm, calm those with excessive liver fire, supplement those with weakened kidney water, remove disorders of the Conception and Governing vessels, assist kidney energy in those with dysfunctional bladder qi transformation, and enhance qi and blood in those who cannot conceive due to deficiency, thereby enabling women without children to have children. Thus, Chinese medicine is indeed very effective for infertility.
For female infertility, one should visit the department of gynecology.
Women who need infertility tests generally go to a hospital and visit either the Infertility Department or the Reproductive Medicine Department. Infertility is generally diagnosed when a couple has been married for over a year, both spouses have normal reproductive functions, have regular conjugal relations without contraception, and yet have not conceived. If infertility is confirmed, the male generally needs to undergo tests such as routine semen analysis, and checks for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia. The female usually needs to undergo tests for immunologic infertility, a sex hormone panel, ultrasound, hysterosalpingography, and follicle monitoring among other related examinations. These issues can generally be addressed by the infertility or reproductive medicine departments in local hospitals.
Can cervical adhesions cause infertility?
Cervical adhesion primarily depends on its severity. If it is a mild cervical adhesion and it does not hinder the discharge of menstrual blood, affect normal cervical secretions, or interfere with the entry of semen during regular sexual activity, then it is unlikely to affect pregnancy. However, severe cervical adhesions can prevent the discharge of menstrual blood and cause periodic abdominal pain, which can affect pregnancy. Therefore, severe cervical adhesions require surgical intervention, generally involving the insertion of an expansion device.
Will infertility cause amenorrhea?
The WHO defines infertility as the condition when both the husband and wife have no desire to remain childless. If they cohabit for more than a year with normal sexual relations and without taking any contraceptive measures and still fail to conceive, they are diagnosed with infertility. Infertility and irregular menstruation are not related, nor does infertility lead to amenorrhea. Amenorrhea or irregular menstruation is due to endocrine reasons. This requires blood tests for six hormone levels, thyroid function, and some endocrine metabolism indicators. These can cause difficulty in conceiving and lead to ovulation disorders. Infertility does not cause amenorrhea, but if amenorrhea occurs, it might affect pregnancy and lead to infertility. This is the relationship between them.
When should immune infertility be investigated?
Immunological infertility can be tested by blood draw at the hospital at any time, and it has no relation to menstruation. If a couple has been trying to conceive for over a year without contraception and has not become pregnant, they should visit the hospital for examination. If the examination shows normal ovulation, reproductive tract function, and no pathological factors are found, and the male partner’s semen analysis is within the normal range, then immunological infertility should be considered. Tests related to immunological infertility should be conducted. If there are issues, isolated treatment methods can be used for three to six months. If necessary, under the guidance of a doctor, oral immunological agents or a combination of traditional Chinese medicine can be used for treatment.
How does infertility arise?
Infertility can be understood as the causes of infertility. We believe that the factors hindering conception are related to both the female and male partners, with the female factors accounting for 60%, male factors accounting for 30%, and factors involving both partners accounting for 10%. There are many causes of female infertility, primarily disorders related to ovulation and fallopian tube factors. Ovulation disorders include dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, ovarian diseases, endocrine metabolic diseases, and systemic diseases. Fallopian tube factors mainly include chronic fallopian tube inflammation, fallopian tube malformations, and pelvic adhesions. Then there are uterine factors, which include poor uterine development, uterine malformations, uterine adhesions, and endometrial tuberculosis. The fourth factor is related to the cervix. The fifth involves the vagina and perineum. Male infertility is mainly due to abnormalities in the semen, sexual function, and immune factors.
Can salpingitis lead to infertility?
The fallopian tubes are an important component of the female reproductive system and play a crucial role in the process of pregnancy. First, the fallopian tubes are the site where sperm and eggs meet to form a fertilized egg. Second, after the fertilized egg is formed, the fallopian tubes are responsible for transporting it to the uterine cavity. Therefore, when any of these two processes encounter issues, it might result in infertility or an ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, inflammation of the fallopian tubes can indeed cause infertility. When significant inflammation of the fallopian tubes occurs, it affects their function, causing them to fail in transporting eggs. Under such circumstances, the sperm and egg cannot meet inside the fallopian tubes for fertilization, resulting in infertility. Additionally, even if a fertilized egg is formed, the fallopian tubes may fail to transport it to the uterine cavity, sometimes causing an ectopic pregnancy.
Will menstruation ahead of schedule lead to infertility?
Menstruation occurring earlier than expected might lead to infertility. Generally, if a woman's period occurs every 20 days or so, it may be indicative of a shortened luteal phase, which can impact pregnancy. If menstruation consistently occurs earlier, it can affect ovulation and the development of the endometrium, which is disadvantageous for conception. If the advance in timing is significant, it usually suggests poor ovarian function, which can impact the development of follicles and the endometrium, thereby affecting pregnancy. If the cycle is very regular and involves normal follicles, the possibility of pregnancy cannot be ruled out. It is recommended to maintain a good mood and ensure adequate rest.
When should infertility be investigated?
There are many reasons for infertility, involving factors from the male, the female, or both. The specific timing for testing cannot be generalized and should be determined based on the test required. For male factors, if a semen analysis is needed, it is best to abstain from ejaculation for two to seven days and conduct the test in the morning. If testing involves blood work for six sexual hormones, it should be done in the morning on an empty stomach. A prostate examination requires urine retention before the test. For female factors causing infertility, blood tests should also be done in the morning on an empty stomach. Hysterosalpingography should be scheduled to avoid the menstrual period, ideally two to seven days after the period ends. Consult a professional physician for other specific tests.
Does taking emergency contraceptive pills cause infertility?
If emergency contraception is only used occasionally, it generally has a minor impact on fertility. However, frequent use of emergency contraceptives may lead to infertility. Emergency contraception usually consists of a combination of estrogen and progestin, with a high hormonal content. Its primary functions are to alter cervical mucus viscosity, hinder sperm mobility, suppress ovulation, and modify the endometrial environment in the uterus, thereby providing a contraceptive effect. Some may cause menstrual irregularities or ovulation disorders, affecting the motility of the fallopian tubes, potentially leading to ectopic pregnancies, which can cause infertility. Thus, emergency contraception should not be used as a regular method of contraception.