Sterility: Diagnosis, Therapeutics, and Monitoring

Abstract

In recent years it has become increasingly important and time-consuming to care for sterile couples. Modern techniques now offer medical specialists a number of possibilities in the outpatient care of patients who, only a few years ago, could only be treated in large clinics and special centers. It has become possible to shift a considerable part of sterility diagnosis, therapeutics, and monitoring to the outpatient sector, leaving only a small group of sterility patients for treatment or supervision in a center, such as those requiring surgery. The medical specialist is usually in a position to supervise the entire treatment course of the sterile couple. In the near future it should even be possible to ensure outpatient supervision of in vitro fertilization. About 20% of the gynecologic patients in outpatient surgery are sterility cases, and 10%–15% of all couples in Germany stay childless unintentionally.