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Infertility in TCM
TCM Treatment for Infertility
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Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of active trying if the female is under the age of 34, or after 6 months of active trying if the female is over the age of 35 (declining egg quality of females over the age of 35 accounts for the age-based discrepancy as when to seek medical intervention). Females who are able to get pregnant but cannot carry a pregnancy to term (impaired fecundity) may also be considered infertile. Primary infertility The couple has never been able to conceive (approximately 40% of infertile couples) Secondary infertility The couple was able to conceive, whether the pregnancy was carried to term or resulted in a miscarriage (approximately 60% of infertile couples)
Common Cause of Infertility
Test and Diagnosis
Infertility Treatment
It is estimated worldwide that one out of every seven couples has problems conceiving, including 7.3 million people in the United States. Infertility has several causes and is not only a problem of the female. According to the data collected in UK (2009), about 30% of all cases are due to female fertility problems, about 30% of all cases are due to male fertility factors, and about 10% of all cases are due to a combination of male and female problems. In about 25% of cases are categorized as unexplained infertility because the cause of infertility is not identified.
Male Infertility
Female Infertilit
Unexplained Infertility
Impaired shape and movement of sperm Sperm must be properly shaped and able to move rapidly and accurately toward the egg for fertilization to occur. If the shape and structure (morphology) of the sperm are abnormal or the movement (motility) is impaired, sperm may not be able to reach or penetrate the egg. Low sperm concentration A normal sperm concentration is greater than or equal to 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. A count of 10 million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen indicates low sperm concentration (subfertility). A count of 40 million sperm or higher per milliliter of semen indicates increased fertility. Varicocele Varicocele is a varicose vein in the scrotum. Because the excess blood that pools and backs up in the vein causes overheating, it can diminish the number and quality of sperm cells that are produced. Physical irregularities A blocked or missing vas deferens or epididymis is another potential cause of male infertility. This problem is usually indicated by a semen analysis in which the sperm count is very low or there are no sperm at all. As long as sperm is still being produced, however, it can be collected directly from the testicles for use during in vitro fertilization. Hormonal imbalance A hormonal imbalance, caused by a gland malfunction, genetic condition, or unhealthy weight, can interfere with sperm production and cause male infertility. Blood tests are used to diagnose hormonal imbalances and treatment may involve medication or lifestyle changes. Environmental and lifestyle factors Because new sperm cells are constantly being produced, the number and quality of sperm are easily affected by environmental exposure and poor health choices. Smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, certain medications, exposure to toxins, and anything that causes prolonged overheating of the testicles can cause temporary male infertility. For more information about Causes of Male Infertility, click here.