I. The process of life
The conception of life is an amazing process that requires the participation of both men and women. Both men and women need to have sound and well-functioning reproductive organs in order to complete the conception of life.
1, the material basis: is the prerequisite for normal female pregnancy, the following three things are indispensable.
(1) sound and well-functioning reproductive organs of both sexes. The female reproductive system includes ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus, and the male reproductive system includes vas deferens, epididymis and testicles;
(2) The female reproductive organs are able to discharge eggs in good form and function on time;
(3) The male reproductive organs produce a sufficient number of sperm with normal vitality.
2. Time limits: There are strict time limits for egg discharge, sperm-egg union, transport and implantation.
Ovulation: When a woman reaches sexual maturity, her ovaries generally have only one follicle per menstrual cycle that matures and expels an egg. Ovulation usually occurs in the middle of two menstrual periods. Regardless of the length of the menstrual cycle, in most cases it is about 14 days before the expected next menstrual period. After ovulation, the egg enters the abdomen of the fallopian tube where it unites with sperm to complete fertilization.
Sperm renewal period: Males can produce sperm continuously, but once they reach puberty, the male sperm pool is renewed every 72 days.
Fertilization period: After sexual intercourse, fertilization candidates of good quality sperm usually arrive at the outer 1/3 of the fallopian tube (abdomen of the jug) in 30-40 minutes waiting to rendezvous with the egg and complete fertilization. The entire fertilization process takes 24 hours.
Entry of the fertilized egg into the uterine cavity: The fertilized egg usually enters the uterine cavity via the fallopian tube on the 5th to 6th day after fertilization.
Embryo implantation stage: On day 6-7 after fertilization, the late blastocyst gradually buries itself in the endometrium after the zona pellucida disappears and is covered by the endometrium and implanted.
3. The process of fertilized egg formation: A male can ejaculate about 300 million sperm in one ejaculation, but not more than 200 can reach the abdomen of the fallopian tube.
(1) When a man and a woman have intercourse, the male semen is ejaculated into the posterior vaginal fornix of the woman and the spermatozoa run towards the uterus and fallopian tubes with the help of the tail swing. The spermatozoa run in a special way, moving in a spiral direction.
(2) The spermatozoa that move to the abdomen of the jugular surround the egg with their heads facing the egg. Of the many sperm, only one can unite with the egg waiting in the abdomen of the fallopian tube to complete fertilization. This sperm penetrates the oocyte and immediately causes a series of changes in the oocyte zona pellucida and the oocyte membrane, forming a barrier that prevents other sperm from re-entering.
(3) The process by which sperm enter the egg and the protoplasts of both sexes fuse to form a new cell is called fertilization. When the sperm enters the zona pellucida of the oocyte, it marks the beginning of the fertilization process. The completion of the fertilization process is indicated when the chromosomes of the sperm and egg primordial nuclei fuse together.
(4) The new cell formed by the union of sperm and egg is called a fertilized egg, and new life begins from there.
4. Important Notes.
(1) Sperm and eggs are produced, develop and mature in the male and female reproductive organs, and are transported through the genital canal to be united. To ensure the health and integrity of these organs is a prerequisite for the conception of a healthy new life.
(2) Ovulation, sexual intercourse, fertilization, implantation and other reproductive processes are subject to certain time constraints. Properly grasping the timing of ovulation, sperm ejaculation, coitus and coitus position is an important part of ensuring the success of conceiving a new life.
The concept of fertility
1. For women, fertility means the ability to conceive and bear children.
(1) Female fertility is related to the quality and quantity of eggs in the ovaries. Female fertility begins at the beginning of the menstrual cycle during puberty (around the age of 13).
(2) The number of eggs in a woman is fixed; a woman is born with all the eggs she will have in her lifetime, usually about 1 million. By the time she reaches puberty, the number decreases significantly to about 300,000. As women reach the age of 35, egg quality and quantity continue to decline and conception becomes increasingly difficult.
2. For men, fertility means the ability to impregnate a woman.
(1) The organ that produces sperm is the testes. Men usually have 2 testes, which are located in the scrotum. Each testicle contains a number of small organs called “varicoceles”, which are responsible for producing sperm.
(2) Fertility begins to decline in men around age 35, but much more slowly than in women. By the age of 50, some men may have less desire, lower sperm quality, and a mild decrease in testosterone levels.
3. Fertility declines with age in both women and men. However, age is not an absolute barrier to pregnancy.
4.Important tip: Both men and women should complete the task of conceiving a new life before the age of 35 if possible.
III. Understanding infertility
1. The concept of “infertility”.
(1) It refers to a decrease or lack of ability to conceive the next generation, and does not mean a complete inability to have children.
(2) According to the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), a couple of childbearing age is infertile if they live together after marriage, do not use contraception, have a normal sexual life, and have not had a pregnancy for more than one year.
(2) The appropriate time for couples to seek help.
Couples should start seeking help when they have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for six months under the age of 35.
3. The causes of infertility may come from the female or male partner.
(1) About 40% are related to female causes, including ovulation disorders, tubal factors, uterine factors, cervical and vaginal factors, etc.
(2) About 30% are related to male causes, including semen abnormalities, sexual function abnormalities, immune factors, etc.
(3) About 20% are related to abnormalities detected by both spouses, including lifestyle, mental and psychological conditions, immune factors, etc.
(4) About 10% of couples have no abnormalities in various tests and cannot be explained.
4. Natural and social phenomena.
(1) According to WHO’s estimation, there are about 60-80 million infertile couples worldwide.
(2) Increasing rate of infertility: from the 1960s to the 1980s, the incidence of primary infertility was increasing in many Western countries.
(3) decreasing fertility rates: the number of first births to women over the age of 35 has more than tripled in the last decade
(4) Declining fertility after the age of 35: after the age of 35, many physiological changes accelerate the obvious decline in fertility, especially in women.
(4) Infertility depends on both couples to face together
1) Unanticipated infertility.
Failure to conceive a child may startle many couples because many of them do not have a history of conditions that can lead to infertility. In fact, many couples have also taken a variety of contraceptive measures in an effort to prevent pregnancy for many years because of immature conditions. They had been under the impression that once they stopped using contraception, they would soon become pregnant and have a child. For most couples this is true, but for others, pregnancy is not as easy as they think.
2. Couples facing infertility together.
(1) Dealing with infertility is not an easy task, and detecting the cause of infertility requires the cooperation and cooperation of both partners.
(2) Many men and women with fertility problems are under mental stress and some are even plagued by low self-esteem. These reactions are normal, and the key to overcoming these psychological factors is for couples to support each other on the basis of their original feelings.
(3) Whether the infertility is due to the male partner, the female partner, or both, both spouses need to face it together.
3.The main factors affecting fertility.
Factors affecting female fertility
Factors affecting male fertility
Age
Genetic factors
Endometriosis
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Early menopause
Sexually transmitted diseases
Smoking
Reproductive organ surgery
Cancer
Age
Exposure to chemical agents
Exposure to heat
Use of prescription drugs
Varicose veins of the spermatic cord
Sexually transmitted diseases
Reproductive organ surgery
Cancer
4. Know the factors affecting infertility.
(1) Lifestyle choices, special surgeries, and even genetics may affect fertility in both men and women.
(2) Age has the greatest influence, but living now may have a significant impact on the ability to have children in the future.
(3) Understanding the influencing factors and preventive measures can increase the chances of pregnancy.
V. Diagnosis of infertility
Infertility is not only a woman’s problem, but must be faced by the couple and examined together. The examination methods may range from simple body fluid tests to complex analytical methods. Regardless of the tests performed, the most important thing is to get the correct diagnosis in order to determine which treatment to use. The diagnostic steps of infertility include: history taking, physical examination and auxiliary examinations.
1. Examination of both husband and wife: First, determine whether four factors are normal.
(1) whether the sperm count and activity are normal.
(2) whether the ovaries are functioning normally and whether eggs are mature and discharged.
(3) whether the reproductive tract is open for the sperm and egg to meet and fertilize.
(4) Whether there is a suitable environment to support the development of the egg and sperm.
2.Female examination.
(1) History taking: age at marriage, sexual life, contraceptive measures, menstrual history, family history, past history.
(2) Physical examination: secondary sexual characteristics, internal and external genitalia, endocrine function.
(3) Auxiliary examinations: white belt examination (routine white belt, chlamydia, mycoplasma, gonococcus, bacterial vaginosis), gynecological ultrasound, female endocrine hormone level examination, tubal patency test, post-coital sperm penetration test, cervical mucus semen compatibility test, laparoscopy.
3.Male examination.
(1) Medical history taking: to understand the presence of chronic diseases and sexual life.
(2) physical examination: general examination, focusing on the external genitalia for deformities or lesions.
(3) Auxiliary examinations: semen routine, bacterial culture, Pap stain, acrosome enzyme test, etc.
VI. Treatment of infertility
1. Infertility treatment trilogy.
Chinese and Western medicine, surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are the “trilogy” of infertility treatment.
Treatment steps
Commonly used treatments
Step 1: Drug treatment
Conservative treatment with a combination of Chinese and Western medicine
Step 2: Surgical procedures
Male and female reproductive organ deformity correction, plastic repair
The third step: assisted reproduction
Technology (ART)
Artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF-ET, including IUI, ICSI, IVF, GIFT), ART Chinese medicine assisted treatment
2.Assisted reproductive technology (ART)
Concept: ART is an overall concept that refers to the combination of egg and sperm for pregnancy by a variety of different medical means.ART includes intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), intracytoplasmic single sperm injection (ICSI), intrafallopian tube gamete transfer (GIFT), intrafallopian tube fertilized egg transfer (ZIFT), etc. IVF- ET is probably the most familiar type of ART.
Methods
Description
IUI
Injection of optimized sperm into the entrance of the cervix or deep into the uterine cavity: prior to injection, the sperm is specially treated in the laboratory to optimize fertilization capacity.
IVF-ET
Gonadotropin treatment is used to stimulate the ovaries to produce mature eggs, which are removed and placed in a test tube to be fertilized with sperm from the spouse or donor. After fertilization, single or multiple fertilized eggs are implanted into the uterus.
ICSI
A single sperm is selected and injected into the egg to complete fertilization.
Others
There are also GIFT, ZIFT, cryopreservation, assisted hatching (AH), and pre-transplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
IVF-ET is performed in 4 stages.
Phase l: Controlled superovulation period.
Stage 2: Egg retrieval.
Stage 3: Fertilization and embryo culture.
Stage 4: Embryo transfer.
The following conditions may occur during the IVF-ET process.
(1) Complications of egg retrieval: bleeding, infection, tissue damage.
(2) Increased chance of multiple births.
(3) Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): reactions such as ascites, nausea, vomiting, ovarian enlargement.
(4) Inadequate ovarian function, if no follicles develop despite pharmacological bulb stimulation, the IVF process cannot be performed.
(5) Some patients will have early miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
The success rate for patients undergoing IVF-ET treatment is approximately 20-40% per cycle, similar to the conception rate for women of normal reproductive age.
The first successful human in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment was performed in 1978. Since then, the success rate of ART has steadily improved, and in 2002, the live birth delivery rate per initiation cycle was 37% for women under 35 years of age who underwent ART, which compares favorably with the monthly pregnancy rate and even delivery rate of normal couples.
Although ART success rates were significantly lower in older women, pregnancy rates were higher than previously in all age groups.
Studies have shown that the live birth delivery rate exceeds 50% or more after 4 ART cycles of treatment.
VII. IVF-ET Adjuvant Chinese Medicine Treatment Method
1. Introduction to adjuvant therapy in Chinese medicine.
(1) IVF-ET TCM adjuvant therapy is a TCM adjuvant therapy program specially designed by You Zhaoling Gynecology Studio for infertile couples who must undergo IVF-ET and other human assisted reproductive technology treatment due to their medical condition.
(2) This adjuvant therapy is safe and effective, and its goal is to adjust the patient’s physical and mental health, reduce the adverse reactions during the treatment, and increase the pregnancy success rate of the treatment without interfering with the medical procedures and related requirements of IVF-ET.
2.The treatment scope of TCM adjuvant therapy: it is mainly applied to patients before, during and after the failure of IVF-ET treatment.
Pre-treatment adjuvant therapy: i.e. 1 to 2 months before preparing to receive IVF-ET, through TCM evidence-based adjuvant therapy, the patient’s health condition is regulated and related diseases that may affect the success rate are treated, so that the patient can prepare physically and mentally for IVF-ET and choose the best IVF-ET treatment plan.
During the treatment, according to the IVF-ET treatment plan and procedures, the corresponding Chinese herbal medicine will be used to reduce the side effects and adverse reactions during the treatment to improve the success rate of pregnancy.
Auxiliary treatment after treatment failure: 1 to 3 months after the failure of IVF-ET treatment, after actively analyzing and searching for the possible causes of the failure, we can target the identification and treatment to prepare the mind and body to receive IVF-ET treatment again and prevent another treatment failure.
3.Diet and contraindications.
Pre-treatment period: It is advisable to have a light diet; avoid eating fried, barbecued, spicy products, dogs, sheep and beef; be moderate in intercourse.
During the descending period, it is advisable to eat foods rich in vitamins and protein; be careful of cold and do not catch a cold.
Before and after egg retrieval: it is advisable to take shrimp skin, pigeon meat, quail meat and eggs, soy milk and soy products, etc.; avoid cold and sour products; be careful or forbid intercourse.
During the late stage of transplantation, it is advisable to eat lightly; avoid fried, barbecued, spicy products, dogs, sheep, beef, spicy and fire, warm, dry and toxic products; avoid loose stools or constipation: avoid intercourse.
After the diagnosis of pregnancy: it is advisable to eat foods rich in vitamins and protein nutrition; avoid deep-frying, barbecue, spicy products, avoid diarrhea or constipation; avoid intercourse during the third trimester.
4.Food therapy prescription.
Pre-treatment.
(1) 10 grams of ginseng, 10 grams of astragalus, 10 grams of yam, 20 grams of soybeans, and the right amount of bones in soup, 1 to 2 times a week.
(2) Dendrobium iron 2-3 grams, carrot, mushroom appropriate amount of soup, 1 to 2 times a week.
Descending regulation period.
(1) 10 grams of yellow essence, 2 to 3 grams of dendrobium iron, 20 grams of black beans, 3 jujubes and an appropriate amount of large bones in soup, 1 to 2 times a week.
1～2 times.
(2) 10 grams of yam, 10 grams of lotus meat, carrots and large bones in soup, 1 to 2 times a week.
(3) Boil porridge with millet and oats 1 to 2 times a week.
Before and after egg retrieval.
(1) Boil soup with l0 grams of lotus meat, 10 grams of longan, 100 grams of quail or pigeon meat or black chicken, once or twice a week.
(2) lotus meat l0g, dendrobium 10g, longan 10g, jujube 3mu, quail or pigeon meat or wu chicken 100g in soup, every
1 to 2 times a week.
(3) Dendrobium ironbark fresh product 3 grams, yam 10 grams, carrot, fresh mushroom appropriate amount, quail appropriate amount, quail or pigeon meat or wu chicken
100 grams boiled soup, 1 to 2 times a week.
(4) Congee with big bones, 1～2 times a week.
Late stage of transplantation
(1) Dendrobium ferruginum fresh 3g, yam 10g, lotus meat 10g, carrot and big bone in appropriate amount in soup, 1～2 times a week.
(2) Boil eggs with 10 grams of sage stems and 10 grams of ramie root, l to 2 times a week.
(3) Dendrobium ferrugineum 3g, lily of the valley 10g, fresh mushrooms, large bones and lean meat in appropriate amounts in soup and porridge, 2 to 3 times a week.
(4) Boil porridge with appropriate amount of each of big bones and lean meat, 2 to 3 times a week.
After the diagnosis of pregnancy
(1) Astragalus stewed sea bass: northern astragalus 15-30 grams, sea bass l (350-500 grams), the right amount of refined salt. Remove the scales, gills and internal organs of the sea bass.
gills and viscera, wash, put in a basin. Add astragalus and water, salt to the right amount, stewed in water. Eat fish meat, each time
Half, divided into 2 servings.
(2) Hen soup: 5 grams of Dendrobium ferrugineum fresh product, 1 hen (about 500 grams), and the right amount of refined salt. Remove the hair and internal organs of the hen and wash it.
Put the fresh Dendrobium iron skin into the pot, add water to stew, add a little salt to taste, and cook until
Add a little salt to taste and cook until the chicken is cooked. Eat the meat and drink the soup, once a week.
(3) Carp porridge: 15-20 grams of ramie root, 50 grams of carp, 50 grams of glutinous rice, sesame oil, green onion, ginger, salt and other seasonings.
The ingredients are sesame oil, green onion, ginger and salt. Remove the scales, gills and internal organs from the carp, slice, add water and boil the soup for use. Take the ramie root and put it in another pot.
Add 200 ml of water and boil to 100 ml, strain the juice, add it to the carp soup with glutinous rice and cook a thin porridge, add a little oil, salt, onion and ginger to taste, and take it twice a day, hot in the morning and evening.
(4) Hemp root in hen soup: 20 grams of dried ramie root or 30-40 grams of fresh product, 1 hen (about 500 grams). Sesame oil, refined salt, and
Seasoning such as sesame oil, salt and monosodium glutamate in appropriate amounts. After the hen is slaughtered, remove the hair, head, claws and internal organs, wash the chicken, cut the ramie root into thin slices and place in the chicken
After the chicken is cooked and rotten, add the right amount of oil and salt to taste.
Eat the meat and drink the soup once a week.
(5) Egg soup: 12 grams of mugwort leaves, 5-10 grams of Dendrobium ferrugineum, 10 grams of ramie root, and 1 egg. Egg with
Put mugwort leaves, fresh dendrobium and ramie root in a casserole, add water, cook over moderate heat until the egg is cooked, peel off the egg shell and cook for another 5 to
10 minutes. Boil 2 eggs at a time. During the 1st month after pregnancy, l times on l day for 6～8 days; during the 2nd month after pregnancy
In the second month after pregnancy, take once every 10 days; in the third month after pregnancy, take once every 15 days; in the fourth month after pregnancy, take once a month until the full term of pregnancy.
(6) Shou Wu Huang Qi
(6) Shou Wu Astragalus Wu Chicken Soup: 20 grams of shou wu, 15 grams of astragalus, 10 red dates, 200 grams of black chicken meat, refined salt, aromatic oil, monosodium glutamate and other seasonings.
oil, monosodium glutamate and other seasonings. The system Shou Wu, astragalus, red dates and chicken meat in a casserole dish with 1000 ml of water boiling
Soup, chicken cooked and rotten to go Shou Wu, astragalus dregs, add the appropriate amount of oil and salt to taste. Eat chicken, red dates, drink soup.
(7) Black bean porridge: black beans 60 grams, glutinous rice 40 grams. Wash the glutinous rice, black beans, put the same pot, add the right amount of water.
Cook the porridge with a gentle fire until the beans are cooked, a small bowl each time, 2 times a day, warm in the morning and evening.
(8) Lotus seeds glutinous rice porridge: 25 grams of lotus seeds, 50 grams of glutinous rice, sugar appropriate amount. After removing the skin and heart of lotus seeds, cook with glutinous rice as porridge.
Add sugar and it is ready. It can be eaten as a main meal or as a side dish.
How to improve the success rate of conception
1. Establish a good lifestyle.
Lifestyle can affect fertility, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help you. What you do today
can increase your chances of getting pregnant in the future.
Exercise properly: Regular exercise is important, but too much strenuous exercise can lead to menorrhagia or menopause, which may impair fertility.
Avoid extreme weight: Being overweight or underweight can affect hormone levels and cause infertility.
Consume enough protein: Protein deficiency can affect female ovulation.
Quit smoking: Smoking causes accelerated egg decay in women and can even cause early menopause, as well as increasing the risk of miscarriage.
Reduce stress: too much stress can affect fertility. Trying to conceive is in itself a stressful experience for both partners. Now objectively look for sources of stress in your life and try to reduce them to avoid future problems.
2. Predicting the day of ovulation.
(1) Menstrual cycles can be long or short, but the interval between the day of ovulation and the start of the next menstrual period is relatively fixed, usually around 14 days.
(2) Calculation method: count from the first day of the next menstrual period, the current day is not counted, count back 14 days or subtract 14 days is the day of ovulation.
For example, if the menstrual cycle is 28 days, and the first day of the current period is on December 2, then the next period will be on December 30 (December 2 plus 28 days), and then subtract 14 days from December 30, then December 16 will be the day of ovulation.
3. Signs of ovulation.
(1) Basal body temperature is the lowest.
(2) There will be an increase in leucorrhea 1 to 3 days before ovulation, in the form of straining.
(3) The body temperature rises 0.2 to 0.3℃ after ovulation (i.e. the basal body temperature rises 2 to 3 frames).
(4) Faint pain in one side of the abdomen.
(5) Feeling breast pain 3-5 days after the rise of the basic body temperature.
4, grasp the main points of intercourse.
(1) The best time to have intercourse: the night before the predicted day of ovulation to the next day before noon.
(2) The best semen: no semen discharge within 3 to 5 days of the male partner, that is, 3 to 5 days of semen is most likely to make women conceive. The number of intercourse before ovulation should be kept at 3 to 5 days. The number of intercourse is too frequent and too dilute can affect the quality of sperm and reduce the chances of female conception.
(3) The best position for intercourse: use a pillow to elevate the hips during intercourse, and remove the pillow only after half an hour of intercourse.
(5) Prohibition of diet and living.
Mid-menstrual period: once every 2 days you can eat shrimp, pigeon meat and eggs, quail meat and eggs, soy milk and dregs and other foods.
Menstrual period and child seeking period: avoid eating cold, sour and spicy food.
Menstrual period and child-seeking period: Do not catch cold, wind or cold.
Menstrual period and child-seeking period: avoid vaginal medication and douching.
Pregnancy: Avoid taking drugs that are contraindicated in pregnancy.