Objective To investigate the distribution and clinical characteristics of TCM syndromes in infertility patients with autoimmune thyroiditis(AIT).Methods By referring to the relevant literature on the distribution of TCM syndromes of AIT and infertility in women of childbearing age,the TCM Syndromes Survey of Infertility Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis was formulated.256 cases of infertility patients with AIT who underwent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET)at the Reproductive Center of The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from June 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The data of basic information,TCM syndromes,basic thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH),thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPO-Ab)and thyroglobulin antibody(TG-Ab)were collected.By means of frequency analysis and systematic cluster analysis,the distribution regularity of TCM syndromes in infertility patients with AIT were concluded.Results After analysis,the following 5 common syndrome elements were obtained,namely,qi deficiency,liver depression,spleen deficiency,kidney deficiency and blood stasis.In addition,it was concluded that this disease was more common in complex syndromes.Through systematic clustering analysis,main TCM syndromes of this disease were obtained,which were qi deficiency and liver depression syndrome(69 cases,26.9%),spleen and kidney deficiency syndrome(45 cases,17.6%),spleen qi deficiency syndrome(38 cases,14.8%),qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome(36 cases,14.1%),kidney deficiency and liver depression syndrome(32 cases,12.5%)and other syndrome types(36 cases,14.1%).The basic TSH level was higher in patients with qi deficiency and liver depression syndrome,spleen qi deficiency syndrome,qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome than other syndrome types,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in TPO-Ab and TG-Ab titers among different syndromes(P>0.05).Conclusion TCM syndromes of infertility patients with AIT can be clustered into qi deficiency and liver depression syndrome,spleen and kidney deficiency syndrome,spleen qi deficiency syndrome,qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome,kidney deficiency and liver depression syndrome and other syndrome.The main element of syndrome is qi deficiency,and the pathological sites involved spleen,kidney and liver.Stasis blood is a main pathological product.It is required to pay close attention to the thyroid function in AIT patients with qi deficiency.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of the secondary sex ratio (SSR) of singleton babies born following assisted reproductive technology.Methods:A total of 7020 single babies delivered by assisted reproductive technology at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital) from January 2000 to December 2018 were collected in a retrospective cohort study. The effect of influencing factors, such as maternal age, fertilization method, embryo transfer type and embryo transfer period on the sex of singleton babies were analyzed.Results:Among 7020 babies, 3730 were boys and 3290 were girls. The total SSR was 113∶100. The SSR of in vitro fertilization (IVF) was significantly higher than that of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertilization (121∶100 vs. 95∶100, P<0.001), while other factors had no significant effect on the SSR of infants born. In the stratified analysis, there was no difference in SSR between IVF and ICSI in the blastocyst embryo transfer group with mother's age 35 years or older ( P<0.05), while the SSR of IVF in the other groups was higher than that of ICSI (<35 years old group: P<0.001; fresh embryo group: P=0.001; frozen-thawed embryo group: P=0.003; cleavage embryo transfer group: P<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the fertilization method in singleton pregnancy had a statistically significant effect on baby SSR ( OR=0.792, 95% CI=0.712-0.881, P<0.001). After removing confounding factors, logistic regression analysis showed that the fertilization method in singleton pregnancy had a statistically significant effect on neonatal SSR (a OR=0.793, 95% CI=0.713-0.883, P<0.001). Conclusion:The fertilization method of assisted reproductive technology can affect the SSR of singleton newborns. The SSR of IVF is significantly higher than that of ICSI and the difference was significant.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of the secondary sex ratio (SSR) of singleton babies born following assisted reproductive technology.Methods:A total of 7020 single babies delivered by assisted reproductive technology at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital) from January 2000 to December 2018 were collected in a retrospective cohort study. The effect of influencing factors, such as maternal age, fertilization method, embryo transfer type and embryo transfer period on the sex of singleton babies were analyzed.Results:Among 7020 babies, 3730 were boys and 3290 were girls. The total SSR was 113∶100. The SSR of in vitro fertilization (IVF) was significantly higher than that of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertilization (121∶100 vs. 95∶100, P<0.001), while other factors had no significant effect on the SSR of infants born. In the stratified analysis, there was no difference in SSR between IVF and ICSI in the blastocyst embryo transfer group with mother's age 35 years or older ( P<0.05), while the SSR of IVF in the other groups was higher than that of ICSI (<35 years old group: P<0.001; fresh embryo group: P=0.001; frozen-thawed embryo group: P=0.003; cleavage embryo transfer group: P<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the fertilization method in singleton pregnancy had a statistically significant effect on baby SSR ( OR=0.792, 95% CI=0.712-0.881, P<0.001). After removing confounding factors, logistic regression analysis showed that the fertilization method in singleton pregnancy had a statistically significant effect on neonatal SSR (a OR=0.793, 95% CI=0.713-0.883, P<0.001). Conclusion:The fertilization method of assisted reproductive technology can affect the SSR of singleton newborns. The SSR of IVF is significantly higher than that of ICSI and the difference was significant.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of The Stork OTC conception aid kit for the treatment of male infertility compared with natural sexual intercourse.Methods:A multi-center, prospective, open, self-controlled, randomly crossed trial was performed in 57 infertility couples who were unable to naturally conceive, and were selected in Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Reproductive Medicine Center,Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Anhui Provincial Hospital from July 2017 to September 2018. Patients were required to participate both the conception aid kit and natural sexual intercourse in two consecutive periods of ovulation. A random envelope method was used to determine the application sequences of two methods. Twenty-nine couples were treated with the conception aid kit in the first month of ovulation, and applied the natural sexual intercourse in the second month of ovulation as group A. Twenty-eight couples were applied the natural sexual intercourse in the first month of ovulation, and were treated with the conception aid kit in the second month of ovulation as group B. Test results collected from all couples who used the conception aid kit were categorized as the test group data. Meanwhile, test results out of those couples who completed natural sexual intercourse were collected as control group data. Compared with its self-controlled natural sexual intercourse two months before and after, the effectiveness and safety of the conception aid kit was verified by general vaginal examination, routine leucorrhea examination, motile sperm score from post coital test (PCT), pregnancy rate comparison and other methods.Results:The trial was conducted at three clinical trial centers. A total of 57 infertility couples were enrolled. A total of 54 couples were validated eventually including 26 couples in group A and 28 infertility couples in group B. Effectiveness was evaluated. The PCT results showed that the sperm score of test group was 6.11±3.00, and the score of the sperm score of control group was 1.22±0.79. The motile sperm score of test group was 5 times ( P<0.001) than that in control group. In the follow-up, 7 (13.0%) of the couples successfully achieved pregnancy with the conception aid kit, 6 (85.7%) of them had healthy offspring, 1 (14.3%) had spontaneous abortion. No couples were pregnant after natural sexual intercourse. Safety was evaluated. The general examination of the vagina and the routine tests of the vaginal leukorrhea showed no difference between test group and control group. All 54 effective couples who completed the test can successfully use the conception aid kid to place the seminal vesicles containing semen and remove them with the attached pulling thread on time without obvious discomfort. Conclusion:The Stork OTC conception aid kits can effectively treat infertility, significantly increase the number of forward-moving sperm entering the cervix, and significantly increase the pregnancy rate. It is safe, non-invasive, simple, can be easily operate by patients themselves, and meets the needs of clinical applications.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of The Stork OTC conception aid kit for the treatment of male infertility compared with natural sexual intercourse.Methods:A multi-center, prospective, open, self-controlled, randomly crossed trial was performed in 57 infertility couples who were unable to naturally conceive, and were selected in Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Reproductive Medicine Center,Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Anhui Provincial Hospital from July 2017 to September 2018. Patients were required to participate both the conception aid kit and natural sexual intercourse in two consecutive periods of ovulation. A random envelope method was used to determine the application sequences of two methods. Twenty-nine couples were treated with the conception aid kit in the first month of ovulation, and applied the natural sexual intercourse in the second month of ovulation as group A. Twenty-eight couples were applied the natural sexual intercourse in the first month of ovulation, and were treated with the conception aid kit in the second month of ovulation as group B. Test results collected from all couples who used the conception aid kit were categorized as the test group data. Meanwhile, test results out of those couples who completed natural sexual intercourse were collected as control group data. Compared with its self-controlled natural sexual intercourse two months before and after, the effectiveness and safety of the conception aid kit was verified by general vaginal examination, routine leucorrhea examination, motile sperm score from post coital test (PCT), pregnancy rate comparison and other methods.Results:The trial was conducted at three clinical trial centers. A total of 57 infertility couples were enrolled. A total of 54 couples were validated eventually including 26 couples in group A and 28 infertility couples in group B. Effectiveness was evaluated. The PCT results showed that the sperm score of test group was 6.11±3.00, and the score of the sperm score of control group was 1.22±0.79. The motile sperm score of test group was 5 times ( P<0.001) than that in control group. In the follow-up, 7 (13.0%) of the couples successfully achieved pregnancy with the conception aid kit, 6 (85.7%) of them had healthy offspring, 1 (14.3%) had spontaneous abortion. No couples were pregnant after natural sexual intercourse. Safety was evaluated. The general examination of the vagina and the routine tests of the vaginal leukorrhea showed no difference between test group and control group. All 54 effective couples who completed the test can successfully use the conception aid kid to place the seminal vesicles containing semen and remove them with the attached pulling thread on time without obvious discomfort. Conclusion:The Stork OTC conception aid kits can effectively treat infertility, significantly increase the number of forward-moving sperm entering the cervix, and significantly increase the pregnancy rate. It is safe, non-invasive, simple, can be easily operate by patients themselves, and meets the needs of clinical applications.