Based on Professor Wang Qi’s "three differentiation" model

the diagnosis and treatment of varicocele (VC)-induced infertility is a three-step process: disease differentiation as the first

followed by constitution differentiation in combination with pattern differentiation

thus concluding that the fundamental etiology of VC is "internal obstruction of static blood" and the main pathogenesis of VC-induced infertility is "static heat in blood aspect damaging yin and kidney essence depletion" . The differences in pathomechanism and pattern of VC-induced infertility with different constitutions were also revealed. The primary constitution of VC patients is blood stasis

while others include yin deficiency

yang deficiency

dampness-heat

qi deficiency

and qi constraint. For VC-induced infertility

internal obstruction of static blood is the main pattern

most commonly complicated by patterns of yin deficiency of of both liver and kidney

kidney-yang deficiency

dampness-heat in semen chamber

both qi and blood deficiency

liver constraint and qi stagnation. The treatment plan for VC-induced infertility is formulated as guided by Professor Wang’s theory of "one major formula for one disease" . The therapeutic principles and method are activating blood and discharging heat

removing blood stasis and dredging collaterals

nourishing yin and promoting essence. Danhong Tongjing Prescription (DTP)

an original formula

is created as the main remedy. According to the "four-factor" model

the treatment plan is flexibly applied in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of VC-induced infertility

and corresponding treatment methods and prescriptions are applied to various complicating patterns. Comprehensive understandings of the nature

onset regularity

and pathological characteristics of the disease from different levels of constitution

disease

and pattern

as well as flexible design of clinical prescriptions can provide new ideas and more suitable treatment plans for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.