Sterility

Sterility refers to the failure of getting pregnant after two years without using contraception. It is a permanent pregnancy inability which should distinguish from infertility. Sterility can be primary or secondary in that primary sterility is the inability to conceive after two years of normal sexual intercourse and secondary sterility is the inability to conceive after two years from the last pregnancy.

To understand the diagnosis and treatment of sterility through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the general concept of TCM should be noticed as well as how it is different from the Western Medicine system (WM).

The Medicine System

TCM system	Western Medicine system
TCM perceives the human body as a whole which includes the inter-related five Zangs, six Fu organs and extraordinary Fu organs. The five Zangs include the Heart, Lung, Liver, Spleen and Kidney and six Fu organs include the Gall Bladder, Stomach, Small and Large Intestine, Bladder and Sanjiao.	WM divides the human body into 11 systems, including integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic and immunity, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive system.

Note: The name of the organs are the same for both TCM and WM but the concept is different between the two systems. Eg. The Kidney in TCM represents the integumentary, immunity, urinary and reproductive systems of WM.

Diagnosis

TCM system	Western Medicine system
Overall diagnosis of human body based on eight principles of Yin vs. Yang; internal vs. external; cold vs. heat; deficiency vs. predominance as well as Qi; blood and body fluid through inspection, listening, inquiry and pulse taking.	Independent diagnosis of each system and detailed analysis of organs based on the chemical, cellular and tissue level through technologies, etc.

Treatment

TCM system	Western Medicine system
TCM provides treatment on the overall body balance through herbal medicine (mainly natural plants), acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, etc.	Treatment will be performed on each individual system of human body through medicine (e.g. tablet or capsule), injection, chemotherapy and physical therapy, etc.

TCM and sterility

In general, Primary Sterility may cause by

1) Kidney Qi deficiency
2) Liver and Kidney deficiency
3) Qi and Blood deficiency
4) Qi of Liver and Heart stagnation
(Gynecology of TCM, Chap 2.3 Sterility)

In general, Secondary Sterility may cause by

1) Qi stagnation and Blood Stasis
2) Interior retention of Phlegm-dampness
3) Downward migration of damp-heat
(Gynecology of TCM, Chap 2.3 Sterility)

The main principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the balance of human body in terms of Yin-Yang. The balance through treatment of herbal medicine or acupuncture will vary from each individual due to the differences in body kind and syndrome of organs disorder.

The main benefit of TCM is that each treatment is designated for each individual, compared to the standardised treatment. Your TCM practitioner would be able to explain to you your syndrome differences and the appropriate treatment.

Reference

Basis Theory of TCM
Wu Changguo, Zhu Zhongbao, publishing house of Shanghai university of TCM, 2002

Diagnostics of TCM
Wang Lufen, Li Zhaoguo and Bao Bai, publishing house of Shanghai university of TCM, 2002

Gynecology of TCM, Chap 2.3 Sterility
Tan Yong, Li Zhaoguo & Cheng Peili, publishing house of Shanghai university of TCM, 2002

Principles of Anatomy and Physiology
Gerard J. Tortora and Bryan Derrickson, John Wiley & Sons. Inc. 11th Edition, 2006

Definition of Sterility
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761558562/sterility.html

Definition of Infertility
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761564058/Infertility.html