Basic diagnostics for unfulfilled desire to have children
Dr. med. Roland Braneti
February 23, 2023
5 min
Dr Roland Braneti, Head of the Women's Clinic, will answer your questions about the causes, investigations and treatment options for infertility.
When do we speak of an unfulfilled desire to have children?
An unfulfilled desire to have children is when a pregnancy does not occur despite regular sexual intercourse over a period of at least one year. The medical term for this is "sterility", whereby a distinction is made between a primary and a secondary form. In primary sterility, no pregnancies have occurred to date. In the secondary form, at least one pregnancy has already been carried to term in the past, but an unfulfilled desire to have children occurs later.
At what point should investigations be carried out?
In principle, investigations should be carried out if there has been no pregnancy for a year. In women over 35 years of age, investigations should be carried out after six months. If there are obvious abnormalities (e.g. severe irregularities in the menstrual cycle), the investigations should be carried out immediately.
What are the causes of an unfulfilled desire to have children and who are the causes?
There are many causes of an unfulfilled desire to have children: in women, for example, menstrual cycle disorders, blocked fallopian tubes (e.g. following inflammation of the fallopian tubes or endometriosis), polyps or fibroids. In men, sperm production is impaired, which can be caused by anatomical changes in the genital area (e.g. varicose veins in the scrotum), infections or other illnesses and medication. In some cases, there are also sexual disorders.
In general, it can be said that one third of the causes lie with the man, one third with the woman and a further third either with both or no cause can be found.
What does the basic diagnosis for women involve?
A hormone analysis, vaginal ultrasound examination and examination of the patency of the fallopian tubes are carried out.
What does basic diagnostics involve for men?
A semen analysis (spermiogram) is carried out here. Depending on the situation, a urological examination may also be carried out.
What is the procedure for fibroids and the desire to have children?
Depending on the location and size of a fibroid, it may be necessary to remove it. This is assessed individually and on a case-by-case basis.
How long should I wait to have children after the removal of a fibroid?
Depending on the size, location and surgical technique, you should wait 3 to 12 months before planning a pregnancy.
Weitere Beiträge
Counsellor
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy follows a clear procedure. Even though each treatment is individualised, there are fixed steps that provide orientation. This overview shows how the treatment basically works and what all the different approaches have in common.
Counsellor
Birth centre or hospital? A medical decision aid for parents-to-be
Birth centre or hospital - which birthplace is right for us? This question is one of the most personal decisions during pregnancy. In addition to medical safety, many women and families also focus on the atmosphere, self-determination and personalised support during pregnancy and birth. This article is intended to provide parents-to-be and families with a sound basis for deciding together which place of birth suits them best.
Counsellor
Stress - when body and soul get loud: what you should know
Stress is almost part of everyday life in our fast-paced world. However, if it becomes ingrained and repeatedly throws our everyday life out of balance, it can become a burden for body and mind. We would like to offer you some guidance in this article: What happens when you are stressed, how do you recognise that it is time to pause and how can you find peace and balance again?