The Truth About Infertility

Infertility is the inability to conceive; it may bephysician aspirates cervical secretions with a long
remedied. However, should the conditions persist,cannula. The woman is to be instructed not to
it is referred to as sterility.void, bathe, or douche between coitus and the
In the United States, one out of every 8 to 10examination; a perineal pad is worn until she is
couples are childless because of infertility; it is aplaced in "lithotomy position" in the examining
major medical and social problem. Both husbandroom. Aspirated material is placed on a slide and
and wife are urged to seek medical attention forexamined under microscope for presence and
complete examinations and evaluation, sinceviability of sperm cells.
almost as many men as women cause a sterileTreatment
marriage.The treatment of sterility is a difficult matter,
It is usually recommended that the male bebecause it may be caused by a combination of
evaluated first, because tests for the female areseveral factors. Efforts are made to build up the
more expensive and time-consuming. Such testsgeneral health of the patient, supplying lacking
may require the services of a urologist,glandular hormones as indicated.
gynecologist, endocrinologist, and internist.Operative treatments include removal of
In the female, the organs of reproduction and theobstructions and plastic operations to restore tubal
glands influencing them are evaluated. Among thepotency. Unfortunately, these are not too
causative factors may be displacement andsuccessful; in addition, there is a high incidence of
tumors of the uterus, genital infantilism, andtubal pregnancy following such operations.
inflammation. To allow fertilization of an ovum, it isThe psychic and social factors of infertility must
necessary that the vagina, cervix, and uterus tonot be overlooked. Among some religious groups
be patent and have mucosal secretions receptiveand nationalities, it is important to have blood
to the sperm. Semen is alkaline, as is cervicaldescendants; adopting children is not acceptable in
secretion; normal vaginal secretion is acid.these families.
Treatment is directed towards correcting theIn other family groups, the man's virility, or
deficiencies encountered in the individual patient.woman's femininity are suspected when a couple
The following tests assist the gynecologist infails to have children. Many pregnancies have
delimiting the problem.occurred after an infertile couple has adopted a
1. Rubin testchild, moved to another location, or the husband
This procedure is to determine the potency ofhad a change of jobs.
the fallopian tubes by introducing carbon dioxideAll of these things indicate that the concepts
through a sterile canula into the uterus, into thebehind infertility are not absolute and concrete.
tubes, and into the peritoneal cavity.There are instances that the information about
By listening with a stethoscope on the abdomen,this particular problem may have underlying
the physician may hear the gas swishing into thecauses that should not be blamed on the inability
abdomen. If the pressure gauge reaches 200 mm.of the person to conceive.
of a mercury, an occlusion may be suspected.Boiled down, the problem on infertility is more of
2. Salpinogram; Hysterosalpingograma social problem than a biological problem. It is not
A radiopaque substance is often used tothe aspect of not being able to conceive that
determine the site of tubal obstruction; an x-raypersons involved are hesitant to disclose the
picture then shows the outline of the tubal lumen.matter.
3. Hubner testIf it is more than just biological malady, then, it
Within an hour or two after intercourse, therequires tough solutions.