Unexplained Fertility and Your Next Steps

One of the very first steps in determining a treatment plan to address your infertility is getting diagnostic testing done. The tests can vary, but often include bloodwork and a uterine ultrasound for women and a semen analysis for men.

The bloodwork can help identify issues with hormones, vitamin D, and egg quantity, while the ultrasound helps to determine if there are any structural issues within the uterine cavity or the fallopian tubes. For men, the semen analysis can help determine if there are any visible concerns about the sperm including motility and morphology (the shape and movement of sperm).

These diagnostic tests are done to help figure out the cause of your infertility diagnosis. Getting to the root cause can help you and your doctor determine what the best treatment plan is for you, but what happens if you don’t have a diagnosis? 

Approximately 15% of couples are diagnosed with unexplained or idiopathic infertility. For these couples, it can be frustrating to not know what exactly is causing their fertility issues. 

What is Unexplained Infertility? 

Unexplained infertility is when standard fertility testing has not found a direct cause for a couple’s inability to get pregnant. It’s believed that issues stemming from unexplained infertility are often in relation to poor egg or sperm quality or possible problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes that are not seen during the standard testing. 

Dealing with an unexplained infertility diagnosis can be stressful, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have options when it comes to taking the next steps with fertility treatment. Your doctor will help you determine the course of action you take next which often means additional testing or starting fertility treatment.

What are the Next Steps for Someone with Undiagnosed Infertility? 

While getting an initial unexplained infertility diagnosis can be frustrating, it doesn’t mean that you won’t find answers along the way. Sometimes you may be exhibiting signs of certain conditions such as endometriosis that can potentially lead to further testing to figure out if there is some other cause for your fertility issues. 

In many cases, if there are no indications of issues, your doctor may recommend moving forward with treatment. Some of the most common treatment options include IUI and IVF. These treatment options often yield a higher potential for success than attempting to conceive naturally, so your doctor will talk to you to figure out what is right for you. 

Choosing the right Fertility Treatment Option

Choosing the right treatment plan for you will depend on other factors including your age and your family planning goals. Many couples with an unexplained fertility diagnosis go on to have success with treatment laid out by their reproductive endocrinologist. 

Here at Nova IVF we have extensive experience with a large variety of diagnoses including unexplained infertility and will take our time determining the best treatment plan to meet your needs.