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Infertility

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Unexplained infertility, any issues during IVF?

32 replies

LillyLeaf · 17/08/2018 18:22

We've been told due to the length of time TTCing (actually only 16 cycles), not a single BFP and being 35 that it looks like unexplained infertility. But I can't help feel that there must be something wrong. We'll probably be starting IVF in Oct/Nov and I'm expecting it to fail as maybe my eggs or his sperm are not good quality or there is something wrong with my womb lining affecting implantation. There must be a problem otherwise we would have conceived.

Has anyone with unexplained infertility gone on to find problems at IVF stage? Or even no problems and it all went well?

OP posts:
Si1ver · 24/08/2018 12:05

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a protein hormone produced by cells within the ovary. Understanding your AMH levels can help to assess your ovarian egg reserve and therefore your fertility.

Like most tests it means little on its own, but together with FSH and other hormone levels can give you a picture of your ovarian reserve and egg quality. It just happened that it was the one hormone in my bloods that gave the answer to why I couldn't conceive. If the NHS had tested for it when they tested for FSH we'd have know what was wrong.

Of course they could have tested for that and then it turned out to be my estradiol levels, which they also don't test for.

thisisouryrfx18 · 24/08/2018 13:39

@Si1ver How much did it cost to get both tested out of curiousity?

Ceara · 24/08/2018 14:36

Unexplained here too - all tests normal, and a textbook regular cycle, but nothing happened the natural way

despite 3 years of trying (age 35-7). It's maddening not to know why I wasn't conceiving. However, once past a certain point in testing all roads will end in IVF anyway, and if the treatment is going to be the same, I follow the logic that further investigations are a bit academic.

FWIW I had the AMH test privately once the NHS tests had run out of ideas, together with an antral follicle count and first consultation at the fertility clinic. The idea was to gain extra information to help decide how much longer to wait before IVF, and discuss options/IVF so I knew what plan B was. No clues from the extra tests as to the reason I never conceived - ovarian reserve was textbook fine and dandy too - but it was def worth doing for peace of mind and it's reasonably non-invasive. The cost was about £200-250 all in, 6 years ago.

I think it's pretty natural when you're "unexplained" to fear the worst and just know in your bones the problem is something intractable that IVF won't overcome. I was absolutely convinced that I had an implantation issue, particularly after the IVF first cycle ended in chemical pregnancy. However... The facts are that we had 12 eggs (with mild IVF), 7 fertilised, 4 made it to blastocyst, and embie number 3 (frostie no 2) stuck. He starts school in September.

Your cumulative odds with unexplained are pretty good over a course of 3 IVF cycles (sadly the chances of success recede after 3 or 4 failed cycles, but you're a long way off that yet). I believe thinking the worst is how we try to protect ourselves, during investigations and treatment, from the rollercoaster of raised and dashed hope, because it's the hope that gets you every single time.

Hang in there and good luck with the IVF.

thisisouryrfx18 · 24/08/2018 14:46

@Ceara ur right thinking the worst anything less is a bonus..after 3yrs i cant build my hopes nemore but u cant help but dream ul b the one that gets pregnant by some miracleSad

physicskate · 24/08/2018 15:19

@ceara - you've expressed it much better than I have. I 10000000% agree.

Although I must say, it is frustrating not having a 'reason', even if the only thing to overcome that reason is still IVF...

Si1ver · 24/08/2018 21:11

@thisisouryrfx18 I had my tests done by an online service Fertility2u, I think combined they were £100 or something similar. It meant I could test on day 21 of any month I wanted.

thisisouryrfx18 · 24/08/2018 21:46

@Si1ver oh thats very handy to know thanx hun i ll check that out x

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