根據2010年世界衛生組織(WHO)統計,全球不孕症比例約8-12%,而國內不孕夫妻比率佔10-15%,也就是每七對夫妻有一對可能會有不孕的問題,加上台灣少子化問題日益嚴重,據內政部統計,嬰兒出生人數在2017年已正式跌破20萬大關,少子化加上人口老化已成為國安問題。不孕症分為「原發性不孕」和「次發性不孕」兩種。所謂「原發性不孕」是指在無避孕情況下從未懷孕過。而「次發性不孕」是指曾經懷孕過,後來因為某些原因無法再懷孕,根據美國研究報告發現估計次發性不孕約有300-400萬婦女(約為11%左右),不亞於原發性不孕,但這一部分文獻期刊相對比較少,故本文藉由文獻回顧進行討論,並藉由39歲女性個案,自產下第二胎後,積極計畫欲生第三胎,經過6年努力無法順利懷孕產子,經過中醫月經周期療法調理後順利懷孕且為雙胞胎,足月時產下健康雙胞胎。
Infertility was estimated to affect 8 to 12% of couples all over the world in 2010, as estimated by the WHO. Infertility affects approximately 10 - 15% of couples of reproductive age in Taiwan. Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. The aging population and low fertility present great challenges to Taiwan. The two different types of infertility are primary infertility and secondary infertility. Primary infertility is defined as couples who have not become pregnant after at least one year of having sex without using birth control methods. Otherwise, secondary infertility refers to couples who have been pregnant once, but now unable to carry a baby. According to statistics collected by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 4 million families (11% of couples) in the USA who already have a child experience secondary infertility. Based on a review of Chinese medicine and western medicine periodicals, literature and textbooks and a case study, we discuss the treatment approaches to secondary infertility to serve as a reference for clinical treatment. One 39-year-old married woman wanted to have a third child but failed for 6 years. Therefore, she sought treatment at our Traditional Chinese Medicine outpatient department. TCM cycle therapy was used as the main treatment principle. After carrying out TCM treatment for 3 months, she conceived naturally with twins. She gave birth to twins in full term.