Unexplained infertility is when there’s an inability to conceive yet no cause has been found. About 10 percent of infertile couples suffer from unexplained infertility.
The good news is that these couples have a 50 percent chance of successful spontaneous conception in the following year. However, this percentage may be reduced if the woman is over 30, has never been pregnant before or has been trying to conceive for over three years.
An infertility diagnosis generally occurs after a couple (with the female being under 35 years) has been trying to conceive for over one year with no success. For couples where the woman is 35 or older, infertility is diagnosed after they've been trying unsuccessfully for 6 months.
During this time, your doctor may have performed routine testing of ovulation, pelvic anatomy, the uterus, and semen yet found no apparent problems.
Time to see a fertility specialist
To ensure the best possible chance of getting pregnant, it may be worth consulting an infertility specialist for unexplained infertility.
It is also important to note that not all OB/GYNs are specialized in testing for infertility. The type of workup that they may perform may not be as detailed as one that an infertility specialist would perform.
Coping with infertility
An unexplained infertility diagnosis can be a very frustrating diagnosis for couples trying to conceive. While it may be reassuring that there is no “problem”, it can also be exasperating that there is no solution.
Understanding the reason why they are having fertility problems can help reduce stress. Instead, couples with unexplained infertility are still left with unanswered questions.
Couples often experience feelings of guilt that they did something to cause their problem. It can be difficult to know which path to choose when the source of the problem can’t be determined.
Despite all the difficult emotions they are dealing with, couples with unexplained infertility should realize that their diagnosis comes from a limitation of science and not of themselves. Current medical technology just isn’t yet capable of determining why they’re having problems getting pregnant.
Can unexplained infertility be treated?
The great news is that there are a number of avenues you can explore which may help you get pregnant, including:
- Acupuncture: Many couples have turned to this form of alternative medicine to treat unexplained infertility. Acupuncture may improve ovarian function and promote rich blood flow to the endometrium lining. Also, studies have shown more effectiveness of fertility treatments when they are used in conjunction with acupuncture. It should be noted however that some medical problems such as blocked tubes cannot be fixed by acupuncture.
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This treatment, also known as artificial insemination, injects specially washed sperm directly into the uterus at the precise timing of ovulation. This increases the chances of successful fertilization by getting the best quality and quantity sperm directly where it needs to be. Couples often try this procedure because it isn’t as expensive and time-consuming as ART.
- Medication: Even though there may not be an issue with ovulation, doctors sometimes try giving medications that induce ovulation. Examples include Clomiphene citrate (Clomid), gonadotropins, or FSH. These drugs can increase the woman’s chances of having twins or multiples. Some of these are also be used in conjunction with IUI or other ART.
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART): Although there are a few variations of this treatment, it basically works by removing eggs from the woman and mixing them with sperm. Once the embryo is created, it is placed back into the woman’s body.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF): This is the most common and effective form of ART. The fertilization of egg and sperm occurs in a lab and the embryo is then placed inside the uterus.
- Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT): Fertilization here also occurs in a lab but the embryos are placed in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus.
- Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT): Here the eggs and the sperm are placed and fertilized inside the woman’s fallopian tubes .The eggs are never removed from the body.
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): a single sperm is injected into a mature egg in a lab and the embryo is then transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube.
When dealing with unexplained infertility, it's important to be able to communicate openly and honestly with your doctor about the treatment options you may want to explore. Remember, knowledge is power!
Sources: IntegraMed: Causes of Infertility, Male Infertility, Female Infertility: BMJ: Unexplained infertility, endometriosis, and fibroids: Bruce DF, Thatcher, S. Making a Baby: Everything you need to know to get pregnant. Resolve: The Dilemma of Unexplained Infertility: American Pregnancy Association: Treating Infertility using Acupuncture: Womenshealth.gov: Infertility:FAQ
