Please or to access all these features

Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Unexplained infertility

12 replies

letshavecourageandbekind · 02/10/2020 01:46

Hi lovelies
Little bit of background.. I'm a 28 year old mum of two. Been TTC for 3 long years with my husband ( my children's stepdad) I've had all the fertility tests and have taken lots of tips off here trying everything but it just isn't happening!
I've heard it can be impossible to conceive with a different partner, I would love to hear some success stories of anybody in a similar situation. We have been diagnosed as unexplained as all tests were absolutely fine.
Obviously I am SO grateful to have my children and I love them dearly, I would just love to give my husband a biological child of his own x

OP posts:
cosmo30 · 02/10/2020 10:10

Any chance you can try ivf? I've also been trying 3 years, I was diagnosed with pcos, my partner had above average sperm count. I had clomid which didn't work. Have recently found out my partner now has a low sperm count so things can change. When did you last have investigations done?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/10/2020 10:36

Its likely that not all the tests have been done for both of you as a couple (people who state this more often than not find that the tests below have not all been done). Or its been the bare minimum in terms of a blood test for you and a semen analysis for him (one such sample is not sufficient). They have missed something here and its preventing conception. At three years of ttc without success there is likely to be a problem with either one of you or with both of you equally contributing to the subfertility.

Unexplained is no diagnosis at all; all this means is that they have failed to find out what is wrong. Sometimes it is a "diagnosis" given to couples when they have not been adequately investigated. Do not ever accept being told that you are unexplained!.

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 tests and velocity testing. However, when they are done, they often uncover a hidden cause for the supposed 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.

At the very least ensure that all the above tests have been done and completed within the last six months (any test result over 6 months should be discounted. Both of you need up to date test results).

letshavecourageandbekind · 02/10/2020 11:09

@cosmo30 Thankyou for your reply.
Sorry to hear you're going though this too. I understand things can change, however my husband has had 3 sperm analysis and all were very good ( last one was a year ago now) IVF is of course an option, however we want to try everything we can before giving it a shot, we have saved some money but are willing to give it another year due to my age. It's just frustrating as there is nothing wrong! Good luck on your journey! Xx

@AttilaTheMeerkat
Thankyou for your detailed response. I feel the same about the 'unexplained' thing. However we have had the following :
Husband - 3 sperm analysis, all very good
Me- hycosy, tubes clear, no blockages and lots of folicles; no abnormalities ( 8 months ago)
I also had the day 3 and 21 bloods, twice ( last lot a year ago ) all normal also.
I take opk's and get a positive every month. I also have regular cycles.

I just don't get why it's not happening x

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/10/2020 14:36

You need up to date test results for both of you given that this was done over six months ago. I still maintain that something fundamental has been missed here and the fertility issue may well lie with him. Did they do a swim up test and velocity testing re his analyses?. If that was not done I would question it further as well as encouraging him to have further analysis done.

EL8888 · 02/10/2020 16:13

@AttilaTheMeerkat exactly, all of this. Unexplained infertility isn’t a diagnosis and lazy doctor behaviour lm afraid. We had this diagnosis for a while, thanks to this board and other sources we hit upon doing sperm DNA fragmentation tests. Turns out my fiancé is basically infertile, IVF never would have worked. Probably is clinic didn’t suggest this test, we didn’t have it done and wasted a cycle of IVF

EL8888 · 02/10/2020 16:13

Probably = problem

letshavecourageandbekind · 03/10/2020 10:41

I have never heard of it!
Thankyou for the info x

OP posts:
letshavecourageandbekind · 03/10/2020 10:42

@EL8888 I'm so sorry to hear your story. Sounds really tough 😞
Do you have a plan for next steps x

OP posts:
willithappen · 03/10/2020 10:58

@EL8888
Sorry if this is too much of an ask but out or curiosity what result was it that came to your partner being infertile? Did he get an SA through docs and everything came back fine there but then further tests showed he wasn't?

EL8888 · 03/10/2020 11:06

Not sure. It’s all quite new and raw. Maybe nothing, maybe possible donor sperm or maybe possibly donor embryos

Fertility issues are tough and there’s so much stuff doctors don’t know about it. They often aren’t very transparent about that, hence the unexplained infertilty “diagnosis”. In all honesty l got most of my information from here and Facebook groups

EL8888 · 03/10/2020 11:13

@willithappen no, it’s fine. In a nut shell yes. He had a dodgy SA back at the beginning. 2 subsequent ones came back excellent, the first results were discarded and blamed on him recently having had a cold. Our embryos during IVF arresting around day 3-4 indicated sperm issues. If he had a standard sperm analysis test today then he would probably pass

CoffeeAndCaramel · 26/08/2021 20:57

Just scrolling back through on old threads and thought it would be nice to update. Turns out I fell pregnant out of nowhere that exact month of posting! Currently sat here snuggling my 5 week old baby boy ❤️❤️ hope some other posters have some good news?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.