Patient's question:
26-year-old with a history of good condition, unable to conceiveDoctor's answer:
Why is there no pregnancy? What constitutes infertility? Experts from Shanghai Changjiang Hospital of Infertility and Sterility explain: Infertility refers to couples with normal sexual life who have not taken contraceptive measures and have not become pregnant. The incidence rate is showing a significant upward trend. A survey conducted by the World Health Organization in the mid-to-late 1980s in 33 centers across 25 countries found that about 5% to 8% of couples in developed countries are affected by infertility, while in some regions of developing countries, the prevalence rate can be as high as 30%. In China, the rate is approximately 6% to 15%. There are approximately 80 million to 110 million infertile patients worldwide. The increasing trend in infertility rates may be related to delayed marriage and childbearing, induced abortions, and sexually transmitted diseases. For sexually active couples of childbearing age who live together and do not use contraception, failure to conceive within 2 years may indicate infertility. The factors or causes include: ① Ovulatory dysfunction, characterized by the absence of ovulation during the menstrual cycle, or ovulation with inadequate luteal function after ovulation; ② Congenital or acquired abnormalities of the reproductive organs that obstruct the smooth passage and function of the reproductive tract from the vulva to the fallopian tubes, hindering the meeting of sperm and eggs, leading to infertility; ③ Immunological factors, referring to the presence of anti-sperm antibodies in the female reproductive tract or serum, which produce an allogeneic immune response to sperm, causing sperm to clump together, lose vitality, or die, resulting in infertility or subfertility. Additionally, some infertile women have serum antibodies against their own egg's zona pellucida, which can hinder sperm penetration and fertilization, also leading to infertility; ④ Infertility caused by sexual dysfunction, lack of sexual knowledge, systemic diseases, and other unknown factors accounts for about one-third of infertility cases. Experts also remind that if infertility occurs, it is essential to seek treatment at a formal hospital.