Infertility is an unfortunate situation that every couple wants to avoid. But sadly almost 48.5 million couples suffer from infertility globally. And the numbers are increasing day on day as we are getting exposed to more toxins and pollutants. Though there are fertility tests to detect and cure infertility problems, sometimes they fail to diagnose. This is the condition known as unexplained infertility. Unexplained infertility in women is one of the major causes of conception delay.
This is a condition where everything in the fertility test report of the infertile woman will seem normal. Unexplained female infertility suggests that the woman has a subtle underlying reproductive issue that the generic fertility tests cannot detect. It demands a detailed analysis of the overall physical and mental history of the patient. Here are the causes, symptoms and treatments of unexplained infertility.
In This Article
- What is Unexplained Infertility in Women?
- Unexplained Infertility And Chances of Pregnancy
- Causes of Unexplained Infertility in Women
- Symptoms of Unexplained Female Infertility
- How is Unexplained Female Infertility Diagnosed?
- Treatment Options For Unexplained Infertility in Women
- When to Consult a Doctor?
- FAQ’s
What is Unexplained Infertility in Women?
Unexplained infertility in women is when fertility tests fail to detect the cause of a woman’s infertility. The doctors take several tests to diagnose the actual reason behind infertility when a couple fails to get pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse. Female infertility tests include; hormonal tests, ovulation tests, ovarian reserve tests, imaging tests of the uterus and fallopian tubes, etc.
In case of unexplained infertility in women, these test reports will not show any abnormalities. Healthcare providers will only declare a woman having unexplained infertility if the reports of the male partner are normal.
Unexplained Infertility and Chances of Pregnancy
It may seem heartbreaking to know that even the doctors are unable to figure out your reproductive problem. But that does not mean that you have no possibility to conceive. It is possible to get pregnant even after being declared as having unexplained infertility. The study by NIH has found that almost about 92% of couples suffering from unexplained infertility
ultimately get a baby after some sort of fertility treatment.
Causes of Unexplained Infertility in Women
The exact cause behind unexplained infertility remains unknown. That is why the condition is termed ‘unexplained’ infertility. The factor or factors causing infertility in the woman do not occur prominently in the regular fertility test reports.
This can happen as the conventional fertility tests taken in the first place often fail to point out subtle defects causing infertility. A detailed examination of the overall health and physical and mental history can bring out the hidden complications of reproduction in women.
The most common causes behind unexplained infertility in women can be;
- Poor quality of the egg
- Untimely ovulation
- Improper density of the cervical mucus
- Subtle defects in the fallopian tubes and/or uterus
- Endometriosis
- Luteal phase defect in the endometrium or uterus lining
- Intercourse not in accordance with the ovulation period
- Poor mental health
- Undiagnosed underlying health conditions such as diabetes, celiac diseases, and thyroid imbalances
[Read : Can You Get Pregnant With Endometriosis?]
Symptoms of Unexplained Female Infertility
The symptom of unexplained infertility is similar to general infertility. Only here it will get difficult to figure out the root cause for the failure to conceive.. There are no prevalent symptoms of unexplained infertility. If there were any prominent symptoms then it will get easier for the medics to diagnose your problem and it won’t be considered unexplained.
The only obvious symptom of unexplained infertility is that you fail to get pregnant after the end of your every menstrual cycle without any particular reason. As fertility is closely dependent on ovulation, irregular and absent periods can be a symptom of infertility. A prolonged menstrual cycle (above 35 days) or a shorter one (below 21 days) can also indicate absent ovulation.
How is Unexplained Female Infertility Diagnosed?
Unexplained infertility is a bit tricky to diagnose. Sometimes a detailed introspection is needed to figure out the actual problem and sometimes it remains hidden even after judging every aspect.
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) thus suggest the below tests to diagnose the cause of unexplained infertility.
- Complete examination of the medical and mental history
- Detailed physical exam
- Blood tests to check hormone levels
- Ovarian reserve tests
- Ultrasound tests to asses’ reproductive organs such as the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes
- Ovulation tests
- Advanced imaging tests such as laparoscopy and hysterosalpingogram
- Detailed consultation on sexual history
The reasons behind unexplained infertility will vary from woman to woman and medical science is improving day by day to diagnose each of them. So, if you are not satisfied with the testing procedure of one obstetrician (fertility specialist), you can always seek a second opinion.
Treatment Options For Unexplained Infertility in Women
As the definitive cause related to infertility remains hidden in case of unexplained infertility, specific treatment cannot be given. Healthcare providers in this case try several fertility treatments with the hope that any of them will prove to be fruitful.
The most common treatments for unexplained infertility in women are;
1. Lifestyle Change
The first and most obvious treatment of unexplained infertility is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Women with unexplained infertility must maintain a healthy weight and diet, and mental and emotional stability. Staying away from smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs is vital. Exercise, meditation, affirmations and alternative therapies can help bring about a mental balance and hormonal balance.
2. Clomid
Clomid is a medicinal pill that can stimulate ovaries to produce more eggs in a month. It can be given to increase the chances of conception through both natural sex and artificial reproduction techniques.
[Read : Clomid Challenge Test (CCCT)]
3. Gonadotropin Injections
Gonadotropins help stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete more follicle-stimulating hormones. That means gonadotropin injections can also stimulate egg production in women with unexplained infertility.
4. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
In this process, sperm is collected, washed, concentrated and implanted in the uterus of the woman artificially during the time of ovulation.
5. Invitro Fertilization (IVF)
This is one of the ultimate treatments for unexplained infertility. Doctors only try this treatment when all the above treatments fail. IVF is the most effective and time-saving treatment for infertility but it is the most expensive one too. The process involves injecting healthy sperm into a fully mature egg, growing the ovum in the lab and then implanting the resulting embryo directly into the lining of the uterus.
[Read : Basics Of IUI and IVF (Assisted Reproduction Techniques)]
When to Consult a Doctor?
You need to seek a doctor’s help if you are above 35 and suffering from one year of subfertility i.e. prolonged unwanted non-conception. In case you are between 35 to 40 years then the subfertility period will reduce to 6 months which means you will require a doctor’s opinion if you do not conceive after 6 months of effort. Women above 40 should try for conception after taking a doctor’s advice. Besides, if you have physical and mental issues that can impact your reproductive health then you should talk to a doctor.
Unexplained infertility in women can be fought back with the help of assisted reproductive technology (ART). But it can be expensive. Both IUI and IVF techniques are complicated and costly for most couples. Some cases of unexplained infertility may need lifestyle changes and medications. Taking less stress, following a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, etc, can increase your chances of pregnancy naturally. So if you are below 35 and have no significant problem causing infertility then take some time to change your lifestyle. You will see a positive outcome.
FAQ’s
1. How to Get Pregnant With Unexplained Infertility?
There are multiple ways of treatment to get pregnant with unexplained infertility. Medications, surgeries, IVF and IUI, and most importantly a healthy lifestyle can increase your pregnancy chances.
2. Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant if Everything is Normal?
There must be an underlying factor causing infertility that fertility tests fail to discover. Problems such as being overweight, underweight, stress, sleeping disorder, PCOS, hormonal imbalances etc. can also negatively impact your chances of getting pregnant.
Read Also: What Are The Different Types Of Assisted Reproductive Technologies?
