Unexplained infertility overview
What is unexplained infertility?Unexplained infertility is when standard infertility testing has not found a cause for a couple’s or a woman’s inability to get pregnant. Some reproductive physicians hold that a diagnosis of unexplained infertility is a non-diagnosis. Show
Estimates indicate that anywhere from 15-30 percent of couples experiencing infertility are diagnosed as having unexplained infertility. This makes it one of the greatest causes of infertility. The variation in estimated percentage of unexplained infertility is due to the fact that experts do not agree on what should constitute “standard infertility testing.” Testing can vary according to the individual’s situation and their physician’s testing protocols. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s guidelines for standard infertility testing call for:
These may be performed in addition to a physical exam and review of medical and sexual history. Both partners may have unexplained fertility problems. Unexplained infertility can be frustrating because affected people know they have a problem but not what is causing it. As with some conditions causing infertility, unexplained infertility may correct itself over time. Causes of unexplained infertilityBy definition, the causes of unexplained infertility are unknown. It’s possible that a person or couple who are fertile may be diagnosed as having unexplained infertility because they have not been successful in reproduction after one year. Similarly, some fertility physicians think that a likely cause of unexplained infertility is that the tests performed to assess infertility in the first place may have missed subtle defects due to imperfect testing methods. The more likely causes of unexplained infertility involve:
Treatment for unexplained infertilityIn the absence of a definitive cause, treatments often recommended for people with unexplained infertility generally focus on the most likely causes. Common treatments for unexplained infertility include:
Quick LinksDo people with unexplained infertility ever get pregnant?Yes, it's possible to get pregnant if you're diagnosed with unexplained infertility. A study from the National Institute of Health (NIH) found that 92% of couples with unexplained infertility who had fertility treatments ultimately had a child.
How many couples with unexplained infertility get pregnant?One study showed that for couples with unexplained infertility and over 3 years of trying on their own, the cumulative pregnancy rate after 24 months of attempting conception without any treatment was 28%. This number was found to be reduced by 10% for each year that the female is over 31.
What is the most common cause of unexplained infertility?Unexplained infertility most likely involves issues with poor egg or sperm quality, or problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes that aren't identifiable during normal fertility testing.
Is unexplained infertility really unexplained?Unexplained infertility is essentially a diagnosis of elimination. Fertility testing did not find a specific cause for the failure to conceive. Essentially, patients with unexplained infertility look good on paper, but in practice, things are not working out as they should.
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