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.

Other Voices

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Written by Qiu Xin Hui
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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What to eat to regulate the body for cold-induced infertility?

Cold body infertility, in traditional Chinese medicine, is mainly caused by the deficiency of spleen and kidney yang. Clinically, this will manifest as a pattern of deficiency and coldness. At this time, one should first make adjustments through diet. The diet should include more warm foods and less raw, cold, especially frozen foods, and more animal-based foods, which are beneficial for the body, such as beef, lamb, dog meat, fish, shrimp, leeks, pepper, and Sichuan pepper, etc. At the same time, one should also engage in more physical exercise to get the body moving and slightly sweating, which can improve the cold constitution and increase the chance of conception.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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Infertility means.

The concept of infertility in medicine is defined as follows: both male and female partners have normal sexual relations without using any contraceptives, and if the female cannot become pregnant after a year, this condition is diagnosed as infertility. Previously, the time frame for diagnosing infertility was set at two years. However, due to the implementation of the two-child policy, the average age of both men and women tends to be higher, so it is generally limited to one year. If there is no pregnancy within this period, it is urgent to go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in order to identify the cause early and treat it accordingly, to avoid delaying the condition.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can acute salpingitis cause infertility?

If there is inflammation in the fallopian tubes, it can potentially lead to infertility. Inflammation causes the fallopian tubes to thicken, affecting their function. Firstly, the function of the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube is impacted, which affects the tube's ability to capture eggs. Secondly, the inflammation can affect the union of sperm and egg within the fallopian tube, making fertilization difficult. Moreover, inflammation of the fallopian tubes can also increase the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy. This happens because when the fallopian tubes are inflamed, their ability to transport the fertilized egg to the uterus is impaired, leading to ectopic pregnancies. Therefore, it is crucial for women with fallopian tube inflammation to undergo adequate anti-inflammatory treatment before trying to conceive. Commonly used medications include cephalosporins and penicillin.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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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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.