Sterility—A Remediable Cause

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor:</h3> —When in general practice, I was occasionally consulted for the relief of sterility by couples who had been married several years, and in whom there was no apparent physical disability. In searching for the causes, I found a suggestion in an old edition of the work on midwifery by Cazeaux that led me to think that the condition was often maintained by too frequent sexual indulgence. Cazeaux suggested that in women the ovum is usually thrown off at the time of menstruation; but that during an orgasm provoked by sexual congress the ovum might be discharged at other times. I reasoned that in this way the ova were constantly thrown off before reaching maturity, and therefore were incapable of fecundation. I advised that for five or six months all sexual intercourse should be abstained from excepting immediately before and immediately after menstruation. I feel sure that in