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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Treatment methods for infertility

The main treatment methods for infertility include medication, surgical treatment, and assisted reproductive technologies. Medication can target endocrine abnormalities and reproductive tract infections in both males and females. Surgical treatment can be aimed at conditions such as varicocele in males and uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts in females. Assisted reproductive technologies primarily address severe oligospermia in males and tubal blockages in females, among other common diseases. It is recommended to visit the reproductive medicine department of a local public hospital to clarify the cause of infertility and receive targeted treatment. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Causes of infertility

Infertility may be due to factors involving either the male or the female. The main causes of female infertility include ovulatory disorders and fallopian tube factors. Ovulatory disorders may result from dysfunction in ovulation, such as changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, as well as ovarian diseases, with polycystic ovary syndrome being the most common condition that could lead to ovulatory issues. Fallopian tube factors include blockages or inefficiencies, which can also cause infertility in women. Uterine factors can also lead to infertility, including abnormalities of the uterus, inflammation of the endometrium, polyps in the endometrium, and intrauterine adhesions, all of which can affect the implantation of the fertilized egg and cause infertility. Abnormal cervical mucus secretion, cervical inflammation, and an unusual immune environment in cervical mucus that affects sperm passage can also lead to infertility. Male infertility factors primarily include disorders of sperm production and sperm delivery, which may manifest as abnormalities in semen, shown by the absence of sperm, weak sperm, or low sperm count, all contributing to infertility. Additionally, sexual dysfunctions such as premature ejaculation, anejaculation, and erectile dysfunction can also result in male infertility.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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Can males with infertility undergo IVF?

It cannot be generalized whether men with infertility can undergo IVF as it must be determined after detailed examination. For example, in cases of male semen abnormalities such as severe oligospermia, asthenospermia, or azoospermia, if no sperm are obtained after testicular or epididymal aspiration, IVF can be considered. However, for conditions like varicocele, sexual dysfunction, and common reproductive infections causing infertility, treatment should be attempted first, and if the treatment is not effective, then IVF can be considered.

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Reproductive Center
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How many people are infertile?

The infertility rate in our country is around 12%. According to the data released by the China Population Association and the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the infertility rate among couples of childbearing age in China has climbed from 2.5%-3% twenty years ago to about 12%-15% this year, with the number of affected individuals exceeding 50 million. Among these 50 million patients, 50% are women, 40% are men, and about 10% are cases involving both partners. With increasing environmental pollution, delayed childbearing age, and growing life pressures, the number of couples experiencing infertility continues to rise.

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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.