Can you have sexual intercourse before infertility examination?

Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
Updated on January 11, 2025
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There are many types of examinations for infertility. If the examination is for male infertility, such as a semen analysis, it is recommended not to have sexual intercourse three days prior to the test. For females, if the examinations involve blood tests or a gynecological ultrasound, intercourse is permissible. However, if the examination includes a routine vaginal discharge test, it is advised not to have sexual intercourse for at least three days beforehand. More stringent timing is required for examinations like hysteroscopy or a fallopian tube radiography. The principle here is to conduct these tests three to seven days after menstruation has ended, in order to complete the fallopian tube radiography and hysteroscopy effectively.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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Can infertility be treated?

Infertility is treatable. The examination and treatment of infertility are progressive and not just a matter of visiting a doctor once and taking some medication to see immediate effects. Often, it is a prolonged battle that sometimes requires six months, or even one to two years, and requires patience without haste. For many patients with infertility, the course of the disease tends to be long and the condition complex, leading to a relatively long treatment period. Therefore, when dealing with infertility and its treatment, it is advisable to visit the reproductive medicine department of a local public hospital for relevant examinations to avoid unnecessary detours.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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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.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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Can Chinese medicine be taken for infertility?

In our clinical work, many patients often have this doubt: Can infertility be treated with Chinese medicine? It can be clearly stated that many diseases can achieve better results through the adjustment with Chinese medicine, and infertility is no exception. However, everyone's basic situation is different, and Chinese medicine cannot guarantee the treatment of all infertility cases. There are many diseases that cause infertility, and many reasons stem from either the male or female partner. There are both functional diseases and organic causes, making it not a simple disease. Issues with either the male or female partner can lead to infertility. It is advised to visit a local reputable public hospital for a detailed examination to determine the cause and then receive targeted treatment, whether through traditional Chinese medicine, surgery, or assisted reproductive technology.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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When to go for infertility check-ups?

The timing of infertility examinations cannot be generalized and should be determined based on the specific test and gender. For males, the primary tests include semen analysis and sperm morphology exams. These require the male to abstain from ejaculation for 2-7 days because if the abstinence period is too short, less than 48 hours, both sperm quality and semen volume may be low, which does not reflect the true level. Conversely, if the abstinence exceeds seven days, it can also affect the results of the test. For females, if undergoing a six-item hormone test, it is best conducted during days 2-5 of the menstrual cycle. For a fallopian tube patency test, it is safer to conduct it between days 3-7 after the menstrual period has ended. The exact timing of these tests should be advised by the attending physician.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is secondary infertility easy to treat?

If it is infertility, treatment is relatively difficult and generally not easy. First, for secondary infertility, it depends on the cause. If it's due to fallopian tube blockage, the extent of the blockage needs to be considered. If it is because the ovaries do not ovulate, then it is necessary to go to the hospital for endocrine testing. Treatment should be based on the results of the endocrine tests, and only when hormone levels are normal will there be normal ovulation and clear fallopian tubes. Without problems related to immunity, it is possible to properly prepare for pregnancy. Therefore, if it is secondary infertility, it is essential to go to the hospital for infertility-related examinations to identify any abnormalities and treat them accordingly. Both primary and secondary infertility are difficult to treat.