Unexplained infertility stories?

[heyarnold19]

Hi all, I am looking for some positive stories from anyone who has suffered unexplained infertility. I have been TTC for 18 months and all my tests (and DH's) have come back fine. I ovulate regularly, my periods are regular etc. This morning I went for a gynecology appointment and went through all the stuff I had already spoken to my GP about so it felt like a little bit of a waste of time. I have been referred for a HSG but was also told that if that if all ok then I wouldnt be referred for IVF/other alternatives until we had been trying for at least 3 years and then we would still only get one shot at it. I'm getting frustrated because there appears to be nothing wrong (which is good news really) but its still not happening.

So I guess what I would like to know is are there any positive stories out there about unexplained infertility? Anyone that tried for a long time and it just happened in the end?

Would love to hear from you! x

[HawkeyeInChaos]

Not so much unexplained infertility, but my problems seemed to be autoimmune related. IVF with an immune-suppression regime worked for me. Could your GP get some blood tests scheduled for you in case this is an issue for you (or rule it out)?

[bigchangesabound]

Hi there,

Me and my DH had unexplained fertility but only had to have been trying for 2 years before being referred for IVF. Check that one out. Anyway it ended up being 2 1/2 years due to our Dr delaying things and losing paperwork! However the timing actually worked out well for us. Anyway now 30weeks pregnant after first shot at IVF and a couple in the freezer.

Do ask again about how long you have to have been trying before being referred and look it up on your local NHS trust website- often GPs don't have the facts correct I have found!

On the positive side, with unexplained means there is no reason why you shouldn't be conceiving so more likely IVF will work.

Good luck

[Frankie234]

HI,

I have just been referred for IVF with unexplained infertility and it has not yet been 3 years of trying, I am not sure if it was different as I have endometrisis and have already tried all the different leaves of colimd, but nothing has works. I get 2 shot and IVF but I think this depends on where you are in the country. Also just been really pushy I am always checking up on the doctor to make sure they are moving thing along with the paper work. I hope to get a date soon for my first appointment for IVF (smile) . keep your hopes up you will get help.

Frankie x

[OreosOreosOreos]

Hi, I had unexplained infertility, had been trying for approx 3 years before I got around to making the appt for the fertility consultant.

The consultant wanted to to a laparoscopy to 'spring clean' everything before she started us on the IVF process, when she did it it turned out I had quite bad endometriosis, which I hadn't know about before. She cleaned it all out during the lap and I fell pregnant the next cycle .

I'm just waiting for an appt to see her again, as we've been trying again for about 18 months, and I think the endo has probably built back up again .

It seems obvious that it would come back, but I wish someone had mentioned it to me at the time, as we wouldn't have left it so long before trying again!

[heyarnold19]

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful. 3 years definitely does seem a long time so I will check it out - I'll be 36 by then so the thought of being stuck in limbo for that long really upsets me!

I am a bit confused though - would things like endometriosis show up on ultrasound scans or on a HSG? I seem to keep finding stories of people finding out after a long time that there is a problem and it simply wasnt picked up before.

Thanks for all sharing your stories, much appreciated. x

[GoooRooo]

I started trying to conceive when I got married at 32. We had all the tests - all unexplained. I was then told I needed to lose a lot of weight to get fertility treatment on the NHS and I really really struggled. I lost five stone and still it wasn't enough. We were trying for five years to conceive and in the end were about to start private IVF and fell pregnant naturally. I had my little boy when I was 37.

I've had two natural pregnancies since then. 18 months after DS I fell pregnant again but it ended in miscarriage. 8 months after that I fell pregnant again and am now expecting a little girl - I will be 41 when she's born in September.

So we did get there in the end, much later than we would've liked but I am enormously grateful for my children and realise how lucky we are.

[OreosOreosOreos]

I think I had a couple of scans, which didn't pick it up, and definitely nothing in the blood work, as I think itsmainly hormone levels they are checking.

I never considered my periods to be particularly painful, although I do get some pain during sex, which can be an indication of it.

[Polyethyl]

A friend had unexplained infertility, then unsuccessful IVF. Then adopted a gorgeous and clever little toddler.

[loveyogalovelife]

Could be Asherman's Syndrome-

My case -
Scans, laparoscopies and all tests normal
Pain always in same place around my period
Periods light or normal
No sign of endometriosis
Everything else v good
Recurrent MC
Trying for 4 years

Finally had hysteroscopy on Monday with camera in womb and they found scarring on RH side where pain is.

The Gynae's said they don't know what it is and haven't seen it before - it's rare - but I've googled and found support groups of women who say it's Asherman's Syndrome.

Going private to see Mr Adrian Lower on Monday one of only 3 specialists in U.K. Who may be able to help

Can be treated for most

[sebashocked]

Unexplained too. 7 rounds of IUI, 5 rounds of IVF - which resulted in 3 miscarriages and another naturally conceived loss between them. Finally gave up trying after 12 years of heartache and fell pregnant a year later. DS is now 2.

[loveyogalovelife]

That's great news

Unfortunately with my condition it's dangerous to get pregnant with my condition. After the agony of my MCs I believe them. Hoping Mr Lower can help.

[Safra72]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Due to my age we were referred immediately (I was 34 but had been trying 2 years), after round one of ivf I was advised to read 'is your body baby friendly' by Dr Alan beer. Best thing I ever did! I explored the 'Chicago ' tests that Care fertility at Nottingham were doing and insisted we had them.... (go on their forum and you'll find it) they wanted us to do 2 more ivf before doing them so we had to really be firm and insist.

Turned out we had a bunch of issues that meant while I can conceive fairly readily my body immediately rejects it and I basically have a heavy period before even a test would show a pregnancy. (This is high natural killer cells)

We had a further round of ivf that failed as they reduced my meds but shouldn't have (we got no eggs) but round three produced our beatiful son who is now almost 6. I was 38 when I had him.

We decided to try again when I was 42 and as Apirin (75mg) was part of my protocol decided to try taking it. Got pregnant first cycle; chemical pregnancy, fell again second cycle but mc at 8 weeks and after being told care would not support a natural pregnancy with immune drugs tried once more, 3 months later but mc again at 11 weeks.

Decided to stop trying but recently had a change of heart and at 44 visited care to discuss treatment - was devastated to find that they would have supported me if I'd called when I was pregnant - they have no idea why I was told the opposite. Anyways we are current taking aspirin again and trying to conceive - as soon as we do I'll be back there for the immune drugs. (And a bloody scan a week!)

My essential points are - google and explore aspirin-if you haven't already. We tried a total 8 years without aspirin yet fell pregnant on it 3 times in 6 months!
Read the book "is your body baby friendly'" by dr Alan beer.
Look into Care fertility and Chicago test' - I found out about it on the forum and we wouldn't have our ds had I not been nosy!

Best of luck.
Xxxx