Singapore Med J 2014; 55(2): 58-66 C linical P ractice G uidelines doi: 10.11622/smedj.2014016 CMEARTICLE Academy of Medicine-Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines: Assessment and Management of Infertility at Primary Healthcare Level Seong Feei Loh, Rachna Agarwal, Jerry Chan, Sing Joo Chia, Li Wei Cho, Lean Huat Lim, Matthew Sie Kuei Lau, Sheila Kia Ee Loh, Marianne Sybille Hendricks, Suresh Nair, Joanne Hui Min Quah, Heng Hao Tan, PC Wong, Cheng Toh Yeong, Su Ling Yu ABSTRACT The Academy of Medicine (AMS) and Ministry of Health (MOH) have developed the clinical practice guidelines on Assessment and Management of Infertility at Primary Healthcare Level to provide doctors and patients in Singapore with evidence-based treatment for infertility. This article reproduces the introduction and executive summary (with recommendations from the guidelines) from the AMS-MOH clinical practice guidelines on Assessment and Management of Infertility at Primary Healthcare Level, for the information of SMJ readers. Chapters and page numbers mentioned in the reproduced extract refer to the full text of the guidelines, which are available from the Ministry of Health website: http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/healthprofessionalsportal/doctors/guidelines/cpg_ medical/2013/cpgmed_infertility.html. The recommendations should be used with reference to the full text of the guidelines. Following this article are multiple choice questions based on the full text of the guidelines. 1.1 Objectives and scope of guideline scheduled for review three years after publication, or if new These guidelines are intended to assist primary care physicians evidence appears that requires substantive changes to the and other healthcare professionals in the management of recommendations. infertility. This includes increasing awareness and educating about the scale of fertility problems, recognising the various EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF causes of infertility, natural fecundity, and success rates of RECOMMENDATIONS in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in relation to female age. Details of the recommendations listed can be found in the main These guidelines also seek to establish clear referral criteria to text as the pages indicated. guide primary care physicians. Definition and causes of infertility 1.2 Target group GPP People who have not conceived after one year of regular The primary target group of these guidelines are primary care unprotected sexual intercourse should be offered further physicians. Nevertheless, these guidelines would also benefit clinical investigation, including semen analysis and/or all healthcare professionals involved in the management of assessment of ovulation (pg 20). infertility. GPP 1.3 Guideline development Basic measures to optimise fertility potential These guidelines have been produced by a committee appointed D Preconceptual counselling in those with advanced age by the Ministry of Health and the Academy of Medicine, should include a discussion of the increased risks of Singapore, with representation from gynaecologists, fertility aneuploidy, spontaneous abortion and obstetric specialists, urologists and family physicians. They were complications (such as delivery by Caesarean section developed using the best available current evidence and and gestational diabetes) associated with increasing expert opinion. maternal age (pg 21). Grade D, Level 3 1.4 Review of guidelines Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are only as current as D In women with advanced maternal age (> 35 years), the evidence that supports them. Users must keep in mind that consultation with a reproductive specialist should be new evidence could supersede recommendations in these considered after six months of unsuccessful efforts to guidelines. The workgroup advises that these guidelines be conceive (pg 22). Grade D, Level 4 List of institutions in alphabetical order Changi General Hospital, Dr Lim Lean Huat & Associates Pte Ltd, KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, National University Health System, Raffles Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, Singhealth Polyclinics, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, The Tow Yung Clinic, Thomson Medical Centre Correspondence: Dr Loh Seong Feei, The O&G Specialist Clinic, #05-06, Thomson Medical Centre, 339 Thomson Road, Singapore 307677. [email protected] 58 C linical P ractice G uidelines D Sexual intercourse every 2–3 days is recommended to who are susceptible to rubella can be offered rubella optimise the chance of pregnancy; this is less stressful vaccination and be advised not to become pregnant for at than timing intercourse to coincide with ovulation, which least one month following vaccination (pg 26). is not recommended unless in circumstances preventing GPP regular intercourse (pg 22). Grade D, Level 4 GPP To avoid delay in fertility treatment, a specific enquiry about the timing and result of the most recent cervical smear B Women trying to get pregnant should be advised against test should be made to women who are concerned about excessive alcohol consumption of more than two drinks their fertility. Cervical screening should be offered a day and episodes of binge drinking can cause fetal harm in accordance with the national cervical screening (pg 23). programme guidance (pg 26). Grade B, Level 2++ GPP C Men should be warned that excessive alcohol intake is Assessment and basic investigations of infertility detrimental to semen quality (pg 23). (including referral) Grade C, Level 2+ D Couples with fertility concerns should be interviewed separately as well as together, to bring out important B Women should be informed that smoking is likely to history that a partner may want confidential from the reduce their fertility (pg 23). other (pg 27). Grade B, Level 1+ Grade D, Level 4 D Men who smoke should be informed that smoking is D At the initial consult, each couple should be assessed for associated with reduced sperm parameters (pg 24). factors that may optimise or contraindicate the planned Grade D, Level 4 pregnancy, possible underlying causes of infertility, and the impact of infertility on the individual and relationship B Women trying to achieve a pregnancy should be informed (pg 27). that a body mass index (BMI) of 19–29 kg/m2 is optimal Grade D, Level 4 (pg 24). Grade B, Level 1+ D A detailed history-taking and clinical examination should be carried out for couples with fertility concerns (refer to B Couples seeking treatment for infertility should be Annex A for details) (pg 27). routinely screened for usage of long-term prescription Grade D, Level 4 medication, as some have been known to affect fertility (pg 25). D Patients meeting these criteria should be referred to Grade B, Level 2++ specialists: • Women aged < 30 years who are unable to conceive C Couples seeking treatment for infertility should also be after regular unprotected intercourse for two years routinely screened for occupational hazards and given without any known reproductive pathology. appropriate advice (pg 25). • Women aged > 30 years who are unable to conceive Grade C, Level 2+ after regular unprotected intercourse for one year without any known reproductive pathology. A Women intending to become pregnant should be • Patients with a known history of reproductive pathology, informed that dietary supplementation with folic acid e.g. amenorrhoea, pelvic inflammatory diseases, before conception and up to 12 weeks’ gestation reduces endometriosis. the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects. The • Patients with a known history or reason for infertility. recommended dose is 0.4 mg per day. For women who • The presence of male problems e.g. history of urogenital have previously had an infant with a neural tube defect or surgery varicocele, significant systemic illness (pg 27). who are receiving anti-epileptic medication, a higher dose Grade D, Level 4 of 5 mg per day is recommended (pg 25). Grade A, Level 1++ B Semen analysis should be conducted as part of initial investigation and should be compared to the following GPP Women who are concerned about their fertility should World Health Organization (WHO) Global reference be offered rubella susceptibility screening so that those values (fertile men) 2009: 59 C linical P ractice G uidelines • Volume (mL): 1.5 or more of the menstrual cycle. Patients with high levels of • pH: > 7.2 gonadotrophins should be informed that they are likely to • Sperm concentration: 15 million spermatozoa per mL have reduced fertility (pg 29). or more Grade B, Level 2+ • Total sperm number: 39 million spermatozoa per ejaculate or more B Women with infertility should be offered screening for • Motility (PR + NP%): 40% or more motile* Chlamydia trachomatis before undergoing instrumentation • Vitality (%): 58 (pg 29). • White blood cells (106 per mL): < 1.0 Grade B, Level 2++ • Morphology (%): 4 or more *PR: progressive motility (WHO 1999, grades a + b); B If screening for Chlamydia trachomatis has not been NP: non-progressive motility (WHO 1999, grade c) (pg 28). carried out, prophylactic antibiotics should be given Grade B, Level 2+ before uterine instrumentation (pg 29). Grade B, Level 2++ B If the first sperm analysis result is abnormal, the patient should be offered a repeat test from the same laboratory at GPP The result of semen analysis and assessment of ovulation least three months after the initial analysis (pg 28). should be completed before the clinician embarks on Grade B, Level 2++ tubal assessment (pg 30). GPP GPP Severe abnormality (azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia)