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