Unexplained Infertility

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People often approach infertility testing with some anxiety, as they may be concerned about discovering abnormalities, and undergoing treatment. However, it is even more frustrating to have completed a fertility evaluation and be told at the end of the process that there is "nothing wrong".

About 85-90% of patients will have at least an educated guess about what is keeping them from conceiving by the end of the evaluation process. For the remaining 10-15% there may be no clear answer. There are causes of infertility that are beyond either our current level of understanding or the present level of sophistication of our testing procedures.

"Unexplained infertility" does not mean "undiagnosed infertility".

"Unexplained infertility" means that all other known diagnoses have been eliminated.

When an individual is diagnosed with "unexplained infertility", a careful review is conducted of their entire infertility evaluation.

• Each test is examined to ensure it was performed correctly and is technically sound.
• The interpretation and/or conclusion drawn from the results are also examined.
• Tests with questionable results may be repeated.
• Further investigation of one or more questionable factors may be conducted.
• If a thorough review still provides no clues or leads, the next treatment strategy is empirical therapy.

Empirical therapy is treatment based on observation or experience with other infertile couples, rather than on conclusive evidence of what is wrong. The justification for empirical therapy is that it frequently works. Through the use of "Assisted Reproductive Technology" or ART, we join hormonal therapy with a form of artificial insemination (i.e. intrauterine insemination, or IVF).