What is Unexplained Infertility?

Andrew Drakeley

Posted by Andrew Drakeley

06 April 2017

Unexplained infertility is a term used when there is no found cause for infertility. Around 25% of infertile couples have unexplained infertility.

Possible causes of infertility

Possible problems could be that an egg is not released at the optimum time for fertility, the sperm may not be able to reach the egg, implantation fails, or fertilisation may fail to occur. There are many different possible causes and sometimes it could be as simple as nutritional deficiency or inaccurate timing of sexual intercourse. Be sure that you’re timing your sexual intercourse correctly and tracking your most fertile days. You can use our Ovulation Calculator to help increase the likelihood of getting pregnant.

Hormonal imbalance

If a woman’s hormones are not balanced then pregnancy can’t occur and, if pregnancy does occur, there’s an increased risk of miscarriage. It’s the same with males, too. Hormonal imbalance can affect the quality of sperm, which will contribute to difficulty becoming pregnant.

Hormonal imbalance can cause other health related issues, such as thinning hair, heart palpitations and low libido. If you suspect you have hormonal imbalance, seek advice from your GP to see what lifestyle factors you can change to create a balance again.

Health problems that can affect a couple’s fertility

There are many different health related problems that can cause hormonal imbalance and fertility issues that cannot be precisely defined. Any of these health issues can directly impact your ability to get pregnant:

  • Diabetes
  • Injury or trauma to the reproductive organs
  • Smoking
  • Drinking an excess amount of alcohol
  • Being under or overweight
  • Thyroid problems
  • Poor adrenal health

How is unexplained infertility tested?

There are several tests your doctor can carry out to see if a couple has unexplained infertility. They’ll most likely test the following hormones:

  • Oestrogen
  • Progesterone
  • Prolactin levels
  • Androgens
  • Homocysteine levels
  • Luteinising Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Natural treatment of unexplained infertility

There are natural options to treat unexplained infertility and they include making a few simple lifestyle changes that can really help to rebalance your hormones and increase your chances of pregnancy.

Changing your diet is one of the first things you should consider if you’re a couple with unexplained infertility.

A fertility diet

Getting the right amount of nutrients is really important to your hormonal health as well as your overall health. Things like iron, calcium, folic acid and vitamin C are all essential for both normal menstruation and sperm health. Eating a whole food diet (consuming minimal processed foods) is the best way to naturally increase your fertility. Whole foods include fresh vegetables, fruits, raw seeds and nuts, organic meat, and whole grains.

Other ways you can manage unexplained infertility is by exercising regularly, taking multivitamins, cutting down on alcohol, avoiding stress and drinking lots of water.

Fertility treatment options

If you’ve been trying to conceive for over a year, and have been living a healthy lifestyle, following a healthy diet, then it might be time to consider other options. If you make an appointment with your GP, they’ll be able to assess your situation and recommend any fertility treatment options.

There’s no one fertility treatment that suits everyone, so the right one will depend on your individual circumstance. Generally, there are three different kinds of fertility treatment, including:

Assisted conception

This could include IUI, in which a sperm is placed into the womb using a fine tube. It can also include IVF, in which a sperm and egg are mixed outside of the body and put back into the womb.

Fertility medicines

There are often prescribed to females and are intended to help with ovulation problems.

Surgical procedures

These include fallopian tube surgery, which can be helpful if a woman’s tubes are blocked or scarred.

If you suspect you have unexplained infertility, or you’re struggling to understand how you can manage it, make sure you book an appointment with your GP.

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Andrew Drakeley

Author: Andrew Drakeley

Mr Andrew Drakeley is the Clinical Director at the Hewitt Fertility Centre, working principally at the Liverpool Women’s site but with managerial responsibility for Knutsford. He holds subspecialty accreditation in Reproductive Medicine and surgery and is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, being appointed Consultant in 2005.
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