The Next Steps After Unexplained Infertility Explained
The reason behind an infertility diagnosis in both women and men is not always easy to determine. This is because everything can seem to be normal for an outwardly healthy couple trying to conceive, when, in fact, something acute is the culprit, such as inconsistent sperm motility or a microscopic uterine fibroid.
However, as often as 10% of the time, infertility is diagnosed through infertility testing — after about a year of unsuccessful conception attempts — without a specified cause; and even more often, abnormalities are uncovered but disregarded as the cause. This ambiguity can be frustrating for people who want to understand why they haven’t yet conceived a baby.
The key to overcoming this frustration is focusing on the word “yet.” Just because your unique infertility challenge is unknown, that does not mean it can’t be overcome. Here’s how prospective patients are advised to proceed:
Think positive thoughts and prepare for pregnancy. It’s likely that your fertility specialist will recommend a round of fertility drugs or even artificial insemination (IUI) as a first step. That means you should start taking prenatal vitamins, moderating your diet and exercise routine for optimum health, and getting plenty of quality sleep.
If, after a few cycles of IUI, you still have not conceived a baby, your fertility specialist might recommend advancing fertility treatment to in vitro fertilization (IVF). In many cases, IVF will be enough to achieve success.
While undergoing fertility treatment, the cause of your unexplained fertility may become apparent. This means that your treatment can be tailored to suit your specific needs. Fertility drug and lifestyle choices can be adjusted so you and your partner increase your odds of overcoming infertility.
When it comes to unexplained infertility, your best chance of getting pregnant usually rests with IVF, especially if you are under age 35. You should seek treatment as soon as possible if you have been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for more than a year (or six months if over age 35). Even if IVF doesn’t work for you, there are other methods of conception to explore with your fertility specialist.
To start down your path to overcoming infertility, even if you’ve already been tested and received an unexplained infertility diagnosis, contact Chelsea Fertility today.
