Unexplained infertility

[Emily100889]

Hi ladies,

So as the title says, our new label is ‘unexplained infertility’...
Basically, all of my bloods are fine, I’m ovulating, periods are regular-ish (although this has only been for the last 5 months), had a HYCOSY/HSG 2 weeks ago and tubes all clear, scan on ovaries and no cysts and DH’s sperm is Normal.

I’m 28 and I came off the pill 2.5 years ago, periods took a year to come back but that’s how long we have been “trying” for. I’m a health freak and exercise a lot which I have really toned down - I think this has helped my periods to become more regular.

Any advice on what to do now? I’m seeing my fertility dr in 3 weeks but it’s all just so slow and I’m getting SO impatient!

Thanks

To be honest, if you haven’t got pregnant after 2.5 years, I’d be getting ready for IVF. Your first round of IVF will be very informative and might help you get to the bottom of the problem. The only circumstance in which I’d carry on trying naturally is if until very recently you were overexercising and underweight and had barely any periods so you couldn’t get pregnant anyway. However, if it was just a bit boarderline for weight and exercise and not a whiff of a bfp, then there’s little point delaying IVF.

Thanks for you message Jojo, you sound like you know what your talking about
Although I say 2.5 years, my periods took a year to come back and when they did they were so random for a good 6 months. I’d say they have settled down since July sort of time and now are always between 29-31 days. Although, in September I was a week late so that one was 37 days. Really thought I was pregnant, sore boobs and peeing all the time. Went to the doctors with suspected UTI in fact. Then came on. Pregnancy test was negative but still wonder now if it was a very early MC.
Up until around July I was underweight - and my routine was very over the top (gym twice a day) I hadn’t really realised what it had done to my body. After a strong telling off from hubby and my parents I realised what I was becoming and have since put on a stone and a half to be ‘in the normal’ weight bracket for my height.
Funnily enough that’s when periods have become more regular.

I am all for IVF I’m just concerned the NHS will try to put this off for as long as possible...!

In our experience, NHS were like “right, IVF for you!!” because we had a good chance of success. So they might not put you off if they think you’ll be good for their stats!

Having said that, as a former over-exerciser, our consultant said my previously being underweight did quite badly affect my ovaries and egg quality. I also gave myself metabolic syndrome, which plays havoc with your hormones.

I didn’t pay much attention at the time, but in IVF I got 24 eggs and only 9 were good quality, and only 2 made it to embryo stage.

If you don’t want to jump straight in - you do have time - you could looks at It Starts with the Egg? I wish I had tried to focus more on egg quality, and tried a bit longer, as tbh IVF is not fun. I got a BFP so for me it’s worth it, it all depends on your personal preferences!

Good luck with it :)

Hi Emily

We were in the same position as you in 2012 after trying for 3 years. We were offered 3 rounds of IUI before going to IVF. The IUI is slightly less invasive than IVF and for us it worked on the last attempt. We were totally shocked and were mentally preparing ourselves to start IVF. So you might want to ask about IUI.

Our DD1 was born in 2013 and in 2014 we conceived again naturally after trying for 12 months and now have another DD.

Never give up hope! I have been there and understand how hopeless and unfair it can feel when you want it al much.

Sending you big hugs.

X

See egg quality is not something I’d even thought of! Can you find out the quality of your eggs? Clomid has never been suggested because I do ovulate but maybe that could improve the quality.

I have read about IUI although the stats don’t look that good...are they about 20% per cycle? Why would you be referred for that over IVF? How long did you have to wait between cycles? Sorry for all the questions!

To be honest, I’m still a bit in denial that we are ‘infertile’ - spent my late teens and early twenties paranoid I’d missed a pill etc to now find out it wouldn’t have mattered anyway! Haha.

Brother in law and wife have just announced they are pregnant after be really trying properly for just 3 months. Some people just don’t know how lucky they are! (Kinda wanted to scream that at them but didn’t)! On my 2 week wait at the moment after having my tubes flushed too so very hormonal and trying not to eat hopes up too much x

Unfortunately, you can’t find what your egg quality is unless you go for ivf and see what happens.

IUIs are often standard procedure before proceeding onto ivf.

Having said that, if you’ve only had regular periods for 5-6 months and DH has normal sperm parameters, then you could try for a little longer before proceeding to ivf as it is pretty full on and invasive. But as PP said, IUIs aren’t nearly as bad.

And do keep up the healthy weight - it ensures hormonal balance and will help you get better uterine lining. Underweight women often have problems with lining thickness so embryos can’t stick.

My advice is to speak to the fertility doctor at the appointment for advice as they will be in the best position to guide you.

Unexplained fertility is the label given to a massive percentage (can't recall exact stats) of people/couples with infertility. So not unusual at all. It just means they haven't found an explanation (and may not ever find one), not that there isn't an explanation.

I know it's super frustrating trying and trying but it sounds like you've had 1.5 yrs of trying, during which you've had six month of more regular periods (poss due to over exercising). Lots of people try for longer before success and you're well on the path to get support regardless, so you're doing all the right things.

Also, in the kindest way (been there, got the multiple t-shirts), if you do end up going down an IVF etc route (esp via NHS if funded), you're going to need to draw on all your patience reserves, because the process can take bloomin' ages. Especially if you need multiple cycles and even that is no guarantee. So to save your sanity now, it's worth trying to find ways to manage the frustration in preparation that you could have a long road ahead (I really hope you don't!) Good luck with your appointment! 😁

Hi Emily

So sorry to hear you have landed in this dreaded category. The fertility DR’s will ask lots of stupid questions and recommend a whole host of expensive stuff. Mine recommended OPKs and Proxeed. I know they aim to have your body as an optimal level for you to be able to conceive, but quite frankly I don’t believe their is an optimal level anymore. I have seen many couples who have ‘passed’ all the tests and landed in unexplained fertility, yet I see others who should never tick any of the boxes and they are pregnant so quickly.
Keeps your hopes up and I hope it goes will at the fertility clinic.

Ani

Hi Emily
I don't have any answers to your questions (sorry) but I thought I would just say hello :) I am in the exact same position to you (although I have been offered clomid even though I O but can't take it until I have a polyp removed). Do let us know what they suggest next as I am interested to know and my next infertility appointment hasn't come through yet. Like you I'm kinda in denial I think and was also terrified of missing a pill. Good Luck and hope it happens for you soon :)

So I am on Clomid ladies.

Fertility doctor thinks that actually I’m not ovulating. I thought my blood results were fine but my day 21 progesterone was 30 and he said he likes to see it over 35 to show an egg was actually released. He thinks my LH is surging - giving me positive opk sticks - but then it isn’t going high enough for the egg to actually release from the follicle. My periods are very light which would make sense as it’s only the lining shedding.

I’m on 50mg if Clomid to help bring my progesterone up and force ovulation. Fingers crossed!

Anyone else been prescribed this?