What are the routine examinations for infertility?

Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Infertility examinations typically include physical exams and special tests. Physical exams mainly involve checking the development of internal and external reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics. Special tests can include examining the quality of male semen, endocrine conditions, and anti-sperm antibodies. Additional procedures can include scrotal ultrasound, prostate ultrasound, prostate massage fluid analysis, and monitoring of the spermatic veins with ultrasound to check for varicoceles.

For females, it is important to check for any underlying diseases and ensure normal development of the uterus, ovaries, and adnexa. Examinations should also check for uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometriomas, and assess for any abnormalities in the reproductive tract. Monitoring ovulation is also crucial to identify any abnormalities in ovulation. If ovulation is normal, the patency of the fallopian tubes should be checked, which can be done through a fallopian tube iodine contrast imaging procedure.

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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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Secondary infertility is how it comes about?

Secondary infertility is when a woman has been pregnant before but has not conceived after a year of not using contraception. The causes of secondary infertility are divided into male factors and female factors. Common male infertility factors include older age or habitual smoking and drinking, leading to decreased sperm quality. Female infertility factors are more numerous, such as excessive sexual activity during reproductive years or weak immune system leading to pelvic inflammatory disease. This inflammation can affect the fallopian tubes, causing blockages and resulting in infertility due to tubal factors; it can also spread to the endometrium, causing endometritis and altering the intrauterine environment, making conception difficult. Some women may suffer from endometriosis, which can also lead to infertility. In some cases, women who have had uterine procedures may experience adhesions in the cervical canal and uterine cavity or abnormal uterine shapes, leading to infertility. Additionally, some women experience significant blood loss after childbirth, leading to pituitary necrosis, hormonal imbalances, and ovulation disorders, which can affect normal conception.

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Why does a chocolate cyst cause infertility?

Chocolate cysts, also known as ovarian endometriomas, are a manifestation of endometriosis. Generally, it refers to the implantation of endometrial tissue on the ovaries, causing local infiltration and invasion, leading to cysts. Because the fluid inside the cyst resembles chocolate, they are called chocolate cysts. Chocolate cysts may cause infertility, for the following reasons: First, chocolate cysts can affect the function of the ovaries, causing ovulatory disorders and ovarian dysfunction. The secretion of estrogen and progesterone is relatively low, and these factors can lead to infertility. Second, chocolate cysts can cause adhesions within the pelvic cavity, affecting the egg-picking function of the fallopian tubes. This factor can also lead to female infertility.

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Reproductive Center
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How to cure immune infertility

Immune infertility comes in many forms, such as anti-sperm antibody positivity and anti-endometrial antibody positivity, among others. The treatment for immune infertility commonly involves the use of isolating therapy, which entails using a condom during sexual intercourse. After using this method for three to six months, it can reduce further stimulation of the female by the sperm antigen, and once the antibody effect has dissipated, intercourse is timed with ovulation. At this time, conception is often possible. For immune infertility, some may choose intrauterine artificial insemination depending on the situation, which involves processing and separating the husband's semen outside the body to extract high-quality sperm for intrauterine insemination. Another method is anti-immune therapy, but the medications often have adverse side effects on the body.

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What are the routine examinations for infertility?

Infertility examinations typically include physical exams and special tests. Physical exams mainly involve checking the development of internal and external reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics. Special tests can include examining the quality of male semen, endocrine conditions, and anti-sperm antibodies. Additional procedures can include scrotal ultrasound, prostate ultrasound, prostate massage fluid analysis, and monitoring of the spermatic veins with ultrasound to check for varicoceles. For females, it is important to check for any underlying diseases and ensure normal development of the uterus, ovaries, and adnexa. Examinations should also check for uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometriomas, and assess for any abnormalities in the reproductive tract. Monitoring ovulation is also crucial to identify any abnormalities in ovulation. If ovulation is normal, the patency of the fallopian tubes should be checked, which can be done through a fallopian tube iodine contrast imaging procedure.