Some misconceptions of infertility patients

  In the course of the infertility clinic, we found that many patients have some misconceptions, which are briefly discussed as follows: First of all, they are reluctant to conduct routine semen examination of the male partner; often we hear female patients say, “I will check first, and then let my husband check if there is no problem. In fact, the cause of infertility may lie in the female partner, the male partner or both men and women. Female factors account for 40%, male factors account for 30-40%, and male and female factors account for 10-20%. The first step in the initial examination of infertile couples is semen routine. The routine semen examination is simple and easy to perform, while the female side has more examination links, and some of them are also invasive and uncomfortable, so the husband must be examined first to find out if there is male infertility so that the doctor can develop the best treatment plan for you.  Secondly, it is too aggressive to ask for a hysterosalpingogram; often patients ask for an imaging test at the first consultation, which is somewhat invasive and needs to exclude male infertility and understand female ovulation and whether the uterus is normal before performing an imaging test. The specific etiological screening items and the order of priority need to be developed by the doctor after a comprehensive analysis of the medical history, and patients are advised to follow the doctor’s advice and not to take the initiative.  Furthermore, aqueous contrast hysterosalpingogram is performed; often patients bring a pancystic glucosamine film to the clinic. Pancystic glucosamine fills and diffuses too quickly in the uterine tubes, often failing to clearly show the morphology of the tubes and the diffusion of contrast in the pelvic cavity, making diagnosis difficult, and the effect on the draining of the tubes is not as good as iodine oil.  In addition, some patients are afraid of hysteroscopy; hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that can clarify the state of the uterine and abdominal cavities while performing surgical treatment. The hysterolaparoscopy recommended by the doctor after a scientific consultation should be actively accepted as long as it provides a scientific and objective basis for the development of the next effective program.  Lastly, many patients are in a hurry to seek medical help and believe in false advertisements and go to irregular hospitals for unneeded examinations and surgeries, wasting a lot of money and time. The above suggestions will hopefully help infertility patients, so that they can avoid excessive examination and treatment, as well as not to miss the time of treatment.