What Is Unexplained Infertility and What Are My Treatment Options?

It can be difficult and even devastating to receive a diagnosis of unexplained infertility… that is, until you understand what that means. What sounds like a dead end is actually a open-ended diagnosis that lets you know nothing is inherently wrong. You still may be able to conceive, although it might take a little extra work on the part of you and your doctor.

Dr. Kevin Hooker and the rest of us at Lake Havasu OB/GYN Care have been serving the women in the Lake Havasu City, Arizona, area for years, and we’re available to help you figure out the reasons for your infertility as well as to provide you with a number of treatment options.

What is unexplained infertility?

Unexplained infertility is the diagnosis doctors must give to patients who have taken all the available tests yet still haven’t presented with a clear reason why they cannot get pregnant.

Certain issues are obvious blocks for fertility, such as irregular ovulation in women or low sperm production in men, but when one of these known issues can’t be found, the diagnosis usually seems no more helpful than a shrug. According to the Huffington Post, about 20%-30% of infertility patients are diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

So, what are my options?

When you don’t know what’s causing the problem, it can seem as though you don’t have any hope. But in reality, you have plenty of treatment options available that can still allow you to conceive. 

Lifestyle changes

First off, it can be helpful to just make a few lifestyle changes, such as:

• Losing weight
• Quitting smoking
• Cutting out caffeine
• Eating healthier or starting a fertility diet
• Getting better sleep
• Cutting out alcohol and the use of recreational drugs

In fact, 30%-60% of women with unexplained fertility become pregnant after three years of at-home remedies, management, and lifestyle changes. Still, not everyone is happy with the wait-and-see approach.

Medical treatments

More intensive strategies are available to you. One such option is ovulation-inducing medications, like Clomid® or Menopur®, which can help increase the number of eggs you release during your menstrual cycle, making you more likely to conceive. 

If you’ve already tried these medications and still haven’t conceived or if you are looking for a more direct option, intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization are two common types of assisted reproductive technology. Surgery also can help restore fertility.

Unexplained infertility can be treated

Just because doctors aren’t sure why you’re having trouble conceiving doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. The best thing about this diagnosis is that it means the traditional reasons for infertility don’t apply to you and, with the help of a few changes to your lifestyle or a medical treatment option, you still have every reason to believe you can get pregnant.

If you have more questions about unexplained infertility or want to talk to Dr. Hooker about your diagnosis, call 928-683-1667 or request an appointment online. We look forward to working with you.