Being diagnosed with unexplained infertility means there isn’t an obvious medical reason why a woman is unable to conceive. Bloodwork, ultrasounds, and other evaluations may indicate that the body is unable to conceive naturally. Women with unexplained infertility can explore assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as IVF. Here are a few ways to find community support if your infertility has no explanation:

Seek Comprehensive Medical Evaluation

Understanding the medical evaluation process for infertility may help those with fertility issues connect with others who have experienced the same thing. Infertility has many causes, including male and female factors. Male factors include low sperm count and motility, and female factors range from uterine inflammation to hormonal imbalance and structural abnormalities. If one is unable to get pregnant naturally, doctors perform tests, such as MRIs or ultrasounds, to determine the reason for infertility. These tests sometimes don’t reveal any issue that is preventing one from getting pregnant.

When conventional tests don’t reveal an issue, one may be diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Fertility doctors recommend specialized tests to look for conditions missed by standard evaluations. These tests include BCL6 and CD138, which look for markers of hidden conditions, such as endometriosis, endometritis, and progesterone resistance. If these tests come back positive, fertility doctors may perform further evaluations to confirm endometriosis or endometritis. Diagnosing such hidden conditions allows doctors to address them, increasing one’s chance of conceiving. Community support also introduces you to other families that have undergone the same evaluations and treatments.

Address Previously Undiagnosed Conditions

Some conditions don’t have obvious symptoms; endometriosis is one condition that can remain silent for many years. Endometriosis occurs when endometrial cells that grow in the uterus also appear in the fallopian tubes, pelvic cavity, or other areas. These abnormal growths behave like normal endometrial cells, growing and shedding during regular menstrual cycles. 

Since abnormal cells don’t have dedicated exits, they may block the pathway for fertilization or cause pain, inflammation, and irregular menses. Some women don’t experience any symptoms, except infertility. If a BCL6 test comes back positive, doctors use biopsies to confirm the presence of abnormal endometrial cells. They then prescribe hormone suppression drugs to reduce such growths or use laparoscopic surgical removal. Other underlying conditions your doctor may treat to improve your chances of conceiving include:

• Endometritis: Refers to a chronic bacterial infection that causes uterine inflammation and reduces its receptivity. Doctors may perform a biopsy before creating a treatment plan.
• Progesterone resistance: Even with normal progesterone levels, the uterine lining may not respond appropriately; this resistance is treated by adjusting progesterone support and medication.
• Poor endometrial receptivity: This occurs when the endometrial wall doesn’t support implantation. Regular testing allows doctors to determine the ideal time for embryo transfer during IVF treatment.

Pursue Alternative Fertility Treatments

Community support can help those with infertility who are pursuing alternative treatment. Find community members who share what treatments worked for them. Modern assisted reproductive technologies help bypass the natural process, increasing the chances of successful fertilization and implantation. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one treatment used when natural conception fails; this involves harvesting high-quality sperm and eggs to complete fertilization outside the womb. 

Viable embryos from the fertilization process are then transferred to the uterus when the endometrium is most receptive, increasing implantation rates. IVF should be pursued after a comprehensive evaluation and treatment of conditions. Doctors also use intrauterine insemination (IUI), which involves placing sperm cells directly into the vaginal opening to address male factor infertility.

Other treatments include frozen embryo transfer, donor sperm and egg, and surrogacy. Some couples also overcome infertility with changes in their lifestyle, such as proper diet, workout, and timing of intercourse. Joining a community exposes you to others who are also making lifestyle changes. You’ll also have the support of couples who have undergone the same treatments. 

Get Help for Unexplained Infertility Today

Couples who are experiencing unexplained infertility can find answers when they visit a fertility doctor. Even if the condition is unexplained by conventional evaluations, tests like BCL6 and CD138 may provide evidence of hidden issues. Addressing endometriosis, endometritis, and progesterone resistance helps eliminate the need for assisted reproductive technologies. Work with a fertility specialist today to find out more about the causes and treatments for unexplained infertility.