I'm ok, dh ok so why no baby?

[Whatsdoneisdoneisdone]

I'm ovulating.
Dh sperm count and mobility normal.
But still no baby after 19 months.

In some ways I wish the tests had shown something because now I'm going to have to have more invasive tests to find the problem. Which is likely that one or both tubes are blocked.
There must be something wrong, mustn't there? Else surely we'd have conceived by now. :-(

So sorry to hear that it must be so frustrating and upsetting. Are you trying for your first child or do you have children already?
Do you chart your bbt?
Use OPKs?
Check your cm?
How frequently are you dtd?
I'm sure you have done everything you can but just asking the usual questions first! Xxx

Hi, sorry to hear of your issues. I think blocked tubes are relatively rare, esp if you've not had infection or trauma. I expect you're likely to join many of us in the 'unexplained infertility' category. I have found this extremely frustrating. No reason, but no baby...

Come join one of the long term TTC threads - brookers, 10+ or besh. Plenty of us around, sadly!

About 1/3 of people who can't conceive are "unexplained". I'm in this very frustrating category. I ovulate, my hormones are ok, my tubes are clear as a bell, my lining is perfect, my cycles are regular, Mr Euro's tests are at the low end of normal. It is hugely frustrating. I got nowhere on 27 cycles of natural dtd/Letrozole/IUI. My first cycle of IVF gave me a BFP (although I mc'd) so it clearly overcame some undagnosed problem with one of us. I'd been very sceptical about having IVF - in no other branch of medicine do they head straight to an invasive treatment rather than bothering to diagnose the problem - but it worked.

Hi - I am also in the 'unexplained infertility' camp. DH and I took 18 months to conceive DS but chalked it up to bad timing due to work commitments and lack of really trying on our part. 3 years later we started TTC no 2 and after 20 months of really trying as hard as we possibly could, went for IVF (hi euro and keep). I am now 10 weeks pregnant and am crossing fingers all will be fine at my scan next week.

I spoke to a counsellor during the IVF process who said that 'unexplained infertility' is one of the most stressful diagnoses you can receive because it is totally unhelpful. I agree with euro that it is bizarre how uninterested the medical profession is in diagnosing fertility problems. The doctors I had just shrugged their shoulders, suggested my age was the culprit (I am now 39 but started TTC when I was 37) and then said go for IVF. I didn't bother with HSG or any tube investigation because of my age.

I feel for you, I often wished I had an identifiable problem that I could then use as an explanation to myself even though it is better as a whole to have nothing wrong of course. But I think also with the definition of one year no baby = unexplained infertility is also problematic. In the past lots of people would have taken longer than that to conceive and no one would have batted an eye.

good luck and try not to stress too much about TTC, it can take over your life.

Im in the same situation unfortunately, both had all tests come back clear and currently taking clomid which I shouldnt need as im ovulating naturally

It is very frustrating, at least if they found something wrong you could deal with it, I do just feel like they go through a ticklist of tests and there is so much more they could be checking.. ive mentioned a couple of things about my periods and they've just shrugged and said 'well the tests were clear'. I wanted to scream at them that they're not doing the right tests !

Me too. We've been TTC for three years with no luck, and apparently there's not anything wrong with either of us. Though this is shorthand for "There probably is something wrong but it's too difficult/rare/random/expensive to find out".

Not unusual unfortunately. You have my sympathy.

I watched a program with Robert winston where there they took 20 women and said within 3 months 25% would be pregnant and so on but by 2 yrs 19 out of 20 would be, unfortunatly for whatever reason sometimes it can take along time, it took me about 19/20 months first time then after my dd because it took so long I didn't bother with contraception and got pregnant as soon as I stoped breast feeding without trying only dtd twice I also know people the opposite way accident first then TTC no 2 taking years, fx you will get your bfp soon, I can understand its just as bad to have nothing wrong as having atleast a cause

We need to shag thesecondcoming?! We didn't think of that...

kitty that's great news re the second one, hope we're all like that. Congrats!

Hester, you're right, there'll be something, or possibly just a combination of very minor things.

rainbow there's loads of things like that on my list too - light periods, used to be painful but not now...

Do you feel that you have been adequately investigated as a couple?.

What tests have been done on both of you to date and when were these carried out?. Any test result over 6 months old should be discounted; you both need up to date test results.

Unexplained infertility is actually no diagnosis at all; it basically means that they have failed to find out what is wrong. Sometimes it is a "diagnosis" presented to couples because they as a couple have not been properly investigated.

I can put up a list of tests that often get missed off if you wish.

I would ensure that both of you have been investigated properly as a couple and that they have looked at male factor issues properly. Bet you they have not done that.

Problem is Attila is that they don't routinely offer all those tests on the Nhs. My consultant looked startled when I asked for my amh level.

You say 'more invasive tests' and talk about the possibility of blocked tubes...does that mean you are on the waiting list for a HSG? If that's what you're worried about, honestly it's not too bad. Mine smarted (apparently my cervix was very narrow so he had to give it a good push to get the tube in) but I've dealt with worse and the staff were really lovely and supportive.

What have the medics said about the next steps?

keepitgoing I'm the same, went on the pill as my periods were very painful and heavy and now there's hardly anything there!

atillathemeerkat what other tests can be done I'd be interested to know?

It's very frustrating op, especially when people imply that perhaps you're not having enough sex or 'just need to relax'

We had a diagnosis of 'unexplained infertility' after 5 years ttc naturally including ovulation monitoring, oodles of shagging etc DD was finally conceived by ICSI after 8 years total ttc. We are now ttc dc2 and have had more tests, still 'nothing wrong' with our fertility but we will be going straight to ICSI anyway.

DD1 took 18 months plus, DD2 took 3. There is, sadly no rhyme or reason to TTC.

DF has two ICSI conceived DCs after a clear diagnosis of sperm problems and a naturally conceived child who appeared after ten years of not bothering with contraception.

Thanks for your valuable contribution, Second. I'm sure none of us had thought of that...

The most common tests that tend to be omitted are:-

Adequate x-rays of the uterus which may show abnormalities not otherwise seen at laparoscopy.

Hysteroscopy - telescope inspection of the inside of the uterus which may occasionally show abnormalities not seen otherwise

Repeated sperm counts over several weeks and months to make sure there is no subtle abnormality

Testing the sperm in special media such as swim up testsvelocity testing. However, when they are done, they often uncover a hidden cause for the suppposed unexplained problem

Thorough hormone tests to detect abnormalities of male hormone or early falls in progesterone

Scanning of the ovaries to see if follicles really are developing and there are no sign of polycystic ovaries

Any test result done over six months ago should be discounted.

But these can only be done privately, no?

Other tests that can be carried out (on then basis that there might be a number of small factors contributing) are thyroid hormone, vitamin D status, full smear to include vaginosis, and immunology/virology profile. It can be quite reassuring to have all this done because at the very least it's an MOT, at best you find something you can fix. You can also have your hormone levels tested to establish your ovarian reserve - which you may want to consider if you are 34 or over? Wishing you all the very best of luck with your journey

We have unexplainned too, 5 years of trying! Its so frustrating to be told nothing is wrong. In my head I think something must be wrong so I do sympathise with u op. I do get so annoyed with people who also say 'perhaps your not having enough sex'??!!! No really, damn it after all these years..of course that is the obvious problem..lack of sex!! Idiots!! Or my fave one is 'just relax and it will happen' makes me feel like screaming!! The only people that know what its really like are the ones that are going through hell trying to get a BFP!

Your GP should be able to do all of these, by the way, except ovarian reserve and immunology profile which may need to be a private fertility clinic.