Patient's question:
This is a tricky problem that one of my younger brothers encountered. He's been married for two years, but his wife hasn't shown any signs of pregnancy yet. The issue seems to be with my brother. So, the family asked me, who is in Jinan, to investigate and see which hospital is better.Doctor's answer:
Experts from Jinan Wanhou Infertility Hospital said that the number of infertile patients visiting the hospital's infertility center has been increasing recently. These patients have many misconceptions during their visits, not only wasting a lot of money and energy but also missing the opportunity to conceive, and in severe cases, leading to lifelong infertility.Dr. Sun Chunxiang, the chief physician of the infertility center at Jinan Wanhou Infertility Hospital, summarized common misconceptions among infertile patients based on her years of clinical experience.
Misconception 1: Having a history of pregnancy means one can always conceive.
Now, however, they are unable to get pregnant. When advised to have their husband checked, they replied, "My husband is fine. His ex-girlfriends used to get pregnant multiple times."
Reminder: Infertility (or subfertility) is divided into primary and secondary infertility. Secondary infertility refers to individuals who have previously been able to conceive but are now unable to do so. It is not uncommon to find cases where a person who could previously conceive normally develops azoospermia years later.
Misconception 2: Adhering to incorrect fertility knowledge
- Ovulation occurs on the 14th day between periods or on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle.
Reminder: Menstrual cycles vary in length, and the exact ovulation day is usually around 13–15 days before the next period. If the menstrual cycle is 34 days, ovulation occurs around the 20th day, not the 17th day after the last period.
- Frequent or infrequent sexual intercourse increases the chances of pregnancy. Some believe that prolonged abstinence "builds up sperm" to improve fertility, while others think frequent intercourse increases the chances.
Reminder: Both ideas are incorrect. If a man does not ejaculate for more than 10 days, sperm motility decreases. Frequent intercourse reduces seminal fluid volume, also lowering the chances of pregnancy. Ejaculating every 3–5 days is optimal for sperm motility without affecting seminal fluid volume. During a woman's fertile window, having intercourse twice a week is recommended.
Misconception 3: Prioritizing treatment over testing
Reminder: The key to treating infertility is identifying the underlying cause. Only with a clear diagnosis can targeted treatment be administered. Blindly treating without a proper diagnosis wastes money and may cause side effects.
Misconception 4: Relying on medication without testing
Reminder: Infertility treatment is usually cycle-based, especially for endocrine disorders. Conditions like hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, luteal phase defect, polycystic ovary syndrome, or uterine malformation often require multiple cycles of treatment. Pelvic inflammatory disease-induced tubal blockage or hydrosalpinx should be treated aggressively in one go.
- Stopping estrogen or progesterone treatment arbitrarily can lead to menstrual disorders and irregular vaginal bleeding.
- Intermittent antibiotic use can cause drug resistance, making subsequent treatment less effective.
- Stopping ovulation-inducing drugs prematurely may result in treatment failure.
Misconception 5: Blindly trusting secret remedies or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
Reminder: The causes of infertility (or subfertility) are highly complex. Only modern scientific diagnostic methods can identify the root cause and provide targeted treatment. Home remedies or secret formulas are based on experience and are not universally effective. In some cases, they may delay treatment and worsen the condition.
For most infertile couples, infertility is not a rare or difficult condition. With accurate diagnosis and identification of the underlying cause, combined treatment using both Western and Chinese medicine, as well as our hospital's unique "Yunzi Therapy," can help them realize their dream of having their own biological children.