By Hu Xiaoyin ( chinadaily.com.cn )

It's reported that the prevalence of infertility was seven to 10 percent in China. And it's been increasing with the delay in childbirth and higher rate of artificial abortion. People are used to planning everything out and controlling everything. Further more, people always pursue high efficiency, including timed pregnancy. In clinics, we find more and more misunderstandings about infertility. I would like to present three typical cases.

Case one, Mrs. Wang, a 26-year-old waitress with one artificial abortion. Wang came to the hospital after two months of failing to fall pregnant. She claimed that the last time she easily got pregnant, after only one unprotected sexual activity. But since then, she tried to have a baby for two months without any success. She thought there must be something wrong with her.

Case two, Mrs. Zhang, a 37-year-old accountant with no history of pregnancy because of a busy work schedule. When she was finally ready for childbirth, she went for a physical check and took folic acid every day, precisely counting ovulation day. But after six months, she still had no signs of pregnancy. So she came for an artificial reproductive technology.

Case three, Mrs. Li, a 33-year-old school teacher in rural China with no baby after two years trying. She got regular cycles, confirmed ovulations by ultrasound and smooth tubes by hysterosalpingography (HSG).She quit her job in search of effective prescriptions for pregnancy. She searched everywhere but never found any. Also, she never had her husband's semen tested.

Maybe you have found part of the problem. It has been confirmed that the pregnancy rate of normal couples are between20 to 25 percent for each cycle. The World Health Organization defines infertile as a couple who couldn't have a baby with a regular sex life without contraception for one year.

Obviously Mrs. Wang couldn't be diagnosed as infertility; we suggested she just keep trying. Mrs. Zhang seemed to do everything scientifically correct, but just knew the one side of pregnancy since ovulation days are hard to prognosis and vitality of sperm may decrease for a long interval. Besides, as a medical intervention artificial reproductive technology may cause complications. Mrs. Zhang had no indication for artificial reproductive technology so we suggested she drop off nervousness and to stop calculating ovulation days.

Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Zhang got pregnant without a doctor's help and any medical interventions. Mrs. Li finally followed a doctor's advice to have her husband tested. The semen report showed no sperm and the couple needed artificial reproductive technology for ingratiation.

Successful pregnancies are decided by smooth tubes, normal ovulation, and sperm. When it comes to infertility, both women and men need to see a doctor.

In terms of infertility, it is claimed that women factors account for 40 percent, and men factors account for 30 to 40 percent, both factors accounts for 10 to 20 percent.

It's easy to understand why both women and men are asked for examinations when the diagnosis of infertility is established.

In conclusion, what we suggest for pre-pregnant women is avoid extra examinations like HSG before trying to have a baby but to do regular body checks.

It's highly advisable to take folic acid when you decide to be pregnant. Always relax without calculating ovulation days. Finally, if you have tried more than a year you'd better consult a doctor with your partner.