• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.21-27
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• 2022

Background: While the application of procedural methods to solve the infertility problem has increased, the decline in the quality of life of women who experience infertility has been disregarded. Methods: This qualitative study used phenomenological analysis of data collected from 13 women with infertility in South Korea to reveal the subjective meaning of physical experiences perceived by women over the course of treatment. Results: Upon analyses of the treatment experiences of women with infertility in South Korea via a phenomenological analysis method, 10 themes were extracted and integrated into four theme clusters ("Perceiving infertility," "The body that gives birth," "A process in an endless tunnel," "Caring for my marginalized identity"). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that women with infertility in South Korea perceived their own bodies as givers of birth living in traditional and patriarchal societies. A contextual flow proceeded to the final stage of women caring for their marginalized identity, which had suffered throughout the course of their infertility journey.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.283-294
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• 2021

A genetic etiology of male infertility is identified in fewer than 25% of infertile men, while 30% of infertile men lack a clear etiology, resulting in a diagnosis of idiopathic male infertility. Advances in reproductive genetics have provided insights into the mechanisms of male infertility, and a characterization of the genetic basis of male infertility may have broad implications for understanding the causes of infertility and determining the prognosis, optimal treatment, and management of couples. In a substantial proportion of patients with azoospermia, known genetic factors contribute to male infertility. Additionally, the number of identified genetic anomalies in other etiologies of male infertility is growing through advances in whole-genome amplification and next-generation sequencing. In this review, we present an up-to-date overview of the indications for appropriate genetic tests, summarize the characteristics of chromosomal and genetic diseases, and discuss the treatment of couples with genetic infertility by microdissection-testicular sperm extraction, personalized hormone therapy, and in vitro fertilization with pre-implantation genetic testing.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the stress, depression, and fetal attachment of pregnant women who underwent infertility treatment, and to identify factors associated with fetal attachment. Methods: As a correlation survey design, data were collected from 136 pregnant women who underwent infertility treatment. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Stress, depression, and fetal attachment averaged $3.01{\pm}0.60$ (range of scale 1~5), $10.02{\pm}6.51$ (out of a possible 63), and $3.64{\pm}0.55$ (range of scale 1~5), respectively. Level of fetal attachment was higher when mother's age was less than 35, having other children, and having prenatal education experience. Lower score of depression and client's age less than 35 were significant factors affecting fetal attachment. Conclusion: Infertility is a life-affecting trauma for the individual, and personal and social changes due to infertility cause physical and psychological difficulties even after a successful pregnancy with infertility treatment. Therefore, prenatal management programs need to be developed giving consideration to the emotional and physical changes in order to promote physical and psychological stability in the women pregnant following infertility treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2 s.66
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• pp.44-56
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was to analyze the status of patients with infertility in the department of oriental gynecology in an oriental medical hospital and propose infertility treatment in oriental medicine. Methods : This study was presented with 2,153 cases of infertile women who had visited the department of oriental gynecology in one oriental hospital in Seoul from 2002 to 2004. Results : The total number infertile patients has decreased year by year. The age range of patients was getting higher and the age group between 30 and 35 took up about one half of the total patients. The duration of infertility for less than 3 years held about 50-60% of the total patients, and the mean duration of infertility was $39.18{\pm}29.57$ months (2004). The most common occupations of females were professionals or administrative managers. The secondary infertility was increasing and unexplained infertility increased from 38.2% (in 2002) to 54.4% (in 2004). However the duration of treatment was shorter. This shows that the age range of the patients having oriental-medicine treatment is gradually getting higher and the number of the patients having oriental-medicine treatment and compliance is decreasing. Conclusions : More studies about objectification of oriental medicine need to precede any other studies. Then, it is thought to be necessary to rebuild cooperative relationships between oriental & western medicine through systematic research and political supports and to establish firm foundations of oriental medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.40-59
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• 2024

Objectives: Since infertility has been big social issue in Korea, this study aims to analyze the domestic study trends in Korean Medicine (KM) for female infertility treatment. Methods: Case studies applying KM treatment on female infertility were selected through 5 domestic journal databases. General characteristics, interventions, outcomes and results and the quality of the reports were analyzed. Especially, the quality assessments of studies were made using CAse REport (CARE) guideline and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. Results: 14 studies (22 cases) were finally selected for the analyzation. The mean age of the participants was 35.1 and the most common factor of female infertility in this study was Uterine factor. Herbal medicine was applied in all studies, and acupuncture was also used frequently. Most cases reported pregnancy of the participants. According to quality assessment, 'Diagnostic challenges', 'Intervention adherence and tolerability', 'Adverse and unanticipated events', 'Patient perspective' and 'Informed consent' were showed low reporting rates. Conclusions: Korean Medicine treatment for female infertility is expected to be effective. In quality evaluation, there were some items with low reporting rates. Further clinical studies have to be conducted to establish the evidence for the treatment.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.93-104
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among infertility stress, depression and Resilience of infertile women during infertility treatment. Methods: As a descriptive study, we surveyed 129 infertile women in 1 fertility center from November 2014 to January 2015. The data was analyzed in SPSS WIn 18.0 program. Results: Infertility stress, depression, and resilience averaged $3.23{\pm}.32$ (range of scale 1~6), $1.42{\pm}.39$ (range of scale 1~4), and $3.45{\pm}.35$ (range of scale 1~5), respectively. There was significant difference in infertility stress by job, abortion experience after pregnancy with infertility treatments, anxiety of high risk pregnancy, burden of pregnancy, important of having child. There was significant difference in depression by job, Economy burden on infertility treatment, burden of pregnancy. Infertility stress had a positive correlation with depression (r=.192. p<.029) Resilience had a negative correlation with depression (r=-.349. p<.001). Conclusion: It is necessary to provide infertile women with the counseling on their infertility stress and depression, and the intervention programs for infertile women is expected to help them cope and adapt with their personal and marital problems, reduce their negative emotions, and thus promote their quality of life.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors affecting the enactment of local municipalities' ordinance for supporting Korean Medicine infertility treatment in the metropolitan area. Methods : For Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, data on the enactment of Korean Medicine infertility treatment and socio-demographic data of the local municipalities were collected through the Enhanced Local laws and regulations Information System and on-line statistical database. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the factors affecting the enactment of the ordinance, The enactment of the ordinance was dependent variable, and the budgeting of local municipalities, the number of population, the number of births, the number of Korean Medicine doctors, and the total fertility rate were used as independent variables. Results : Up to 2000, the ordinances for supporting Korean Medicine infertility treatment were enacted in 16 local municipalities and the budget for that was supported by 18 local municipalities. Regarding the effect on the enactment of the ordinances, it was found that budgeting of Korean Medicine infertility treatment had a positive (+) effect, and the metropolitan government's budgeting and the total fertility rate had a negative (-) effect. Conclusions : This study suggests that the ordinance for Korean Medicine infertility treatment is a policy tool derived based on the problem of low fertility faced by each local municipality rather than the political influence of health provider's groups.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.1-15
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the results of Korean medicine treatment infertility support program in Gwang-ju Metropolitan City in 2021. Methods: Participants of Korean medicine treatment infertility support program were provided Herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and Counseling for 3 months and followed up for 3 months after the treatments. The project was carried out for 100 infertile women under the age of 42 living in Gwang-ju Metropolitan City, of which 91 completed treatment until the end. Collected data of 91 women containing pregnancy rates, characteristics of subjects, treatments, and satisfaction of the program were analyzed. Results: After the treatment, 23 out of 91 subjects were pregnant, two of whom were miscarried, and 21 were maintained. The average age of pregnant women in 23 pregnant subjects was 33.8 years old, of which the average age of those who maintained pregnancy was 32.4 years old, and the age of one miscarried person was 39 years old. More than 85% of subjects answered that they were satisfied with the program in the satisfaction survey. Conclusions: Based on this report, the clinical data were obtained from the infertility treatment program. This study can be used as basic data to help establish infertility support programs and subsequent policies like support for men in the future Korean medicine infertility project and extension of the herbal medicine treatment period.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.173-195
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• 2023

Objectives: To investigate and analyze the assessment indicators and tools used in clinical practice to assess Korean medicine (KM) treatment for infertility, and to establish a basis for assessment tools to diagnose and assess infertility. Methods: Relevant studies published until March 2023 were extracted from Pubmed, Research Information Sharing Service, and National Digital Science Library databases. Results: Sixty-four studies comprising 4,105 patients were included. We investigated pregnancy outcomes, and assessed pregnancy- and childbirth-related factors, overall health, reproductive health, and mental health. Pregnancy result was most common primary outcome. Ongoing pregnancy, stillbirth, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy rates were suggested as indicators of pregnancy and childbirth-related assessment. Overall health was most commonly assessed with Likert and Visual analogue scale (VAS). Among reproductive health variables, menstrual history was most frequently assessed. Moreover, indicators such as reproductive function, sexual intercourse, and gynecological disease were assessed. The Infertility Stress Scale and the Fertility Quality of Life tool (FertiQoL) were used to assess mental health. Conclusions: Subjective scales and objective assessment tools, such as the Likert scale and blood tests/ultrasonography, respectively, are used to assess KM infertility treatment. Inconsistent assessment tools make quantitative analyses more challenging. The development of a standardized mental and physical function assessment questionnaire with confirmed reliability and validity ensure the effectiveness of KM infertility treatment, and promote future studies on infertility treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.96-110
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the results and review the outcomes and satisfaction levels of the 2023 Busan Korean medicine infertility treatment support project. Methods: A total of 137 female and 26 male participated in the Korean medicine infertility treatment support project, which encompassed herbal medicine and pharmacopuncture treatment over 4-month period. Data pertaining to patients' general, demographic, and fertility-related characteristics were collected before treatment initiation. During treatment, information regarding the treatments administered by Korean medical doctors was recorded, along with post-treatment outcomes and satisfaction levels. Results: Out of 163 initially enrolled participants, data from 4 female participants were missing, data from 159 participants were analyzed. A total of 113 female and 22 male participants completed the treatment program (Completion rate 84.9%). Of these, 23 female participants achieved pregnancy (Pregnancy rate 20.4%). Participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the treatment support project, with an average satisfaction score of 9.4 out of 10. Conclusions: The study analyzed the clinical findings of the 2023 Busan Korean medicine infertility treatment support project. These findings provide a basis for developing Korean medicine infertility support projects and related research.