Unexplained infertility - treatment options??

[xxBubsxx]

Went to see the FS yesterday to discuss the results of my lap. Apparently there's a question mark over whether or not my left tube is working properly but not anything they are able to do about it. Husbands SA is fine so we are officially 'unexplained infertility' ...and they aren't offering any help whatsoever.

The FS said we are still young (28) and haven't been trying all that long (over 2yrs now) so won't be referring us for any treatment. I thought we'd be offered something?! He said the next step would be IVF but wouldn't refer us just now and there would be a 2 and a 1/2 year waitlist for this. I thought maybe we'd be offered clomid (you can be prescribed this even if you are ovulating right?!), or IUI?

Can anyone share their experiences with unexplained infertility and treatment they'd been offered?

 

[dlj2]

Sorry I dont have any input but am in a similar situation I go back for my follow up in september, so will be very interested to hear others input here-can you challenge this and say you arnt happy to just wait as two years is already a long time?? does seem ridiculous to me. Lots of luck.x

 

[xxBubsxx]

Thanks for your reply dlj2. FS did agree to a 6-month follow-up appointment (so Jan 2012) but that was it. To qualify for IVF referral in our area you need to have been trying for 3 years so I understand he can't do anything for us until then (it's a blow that it'll be a further 2 and a half years after that until treatment though).

I'm just a bit shocked as I thought there would be other options for NHS treatment before IVF. He just kept banging on about how young we were - don't they realise how irritating that is?!

Are you in the UK? What stage are you at with things? x

 

[dlj2]

It is incredibly frustrating! And I really think age gas nothing to do with it, once you have decided to have a family your just ready. I really hope others have some better advise for you.xx
I had a lap and dye done in June which was all clear, oh SA showed only 2% morph but weirdly enough that hasnt been classed as an issue and we have been classified as undiagnosed also. We go back in September for next steps if we havnt conceived before hand, the only issue for us at present is that we don't meet the eligibility criteria as I am a skinny lady and at present am having to appeal to try and get our funding for ivf approved.

 

[Cookie dough]

We've been classed as 'subfertility'. Basically I have one polycystic ovary but the other appears to be working fine. We've been trying for 18 months and I was prescribed clomid last week to try and improve my eggs from the ovary that is working. If that doesn't work then they are going to try me on metformin to try and get my polycystic ovary working and then they'll give me clomid again.

 

[KittyCat82]

Hi hun-we are totally unexplained-all results came back on the better side of normal. We were offfered clomid but it was horrible so only managed 3 months on it (And it did nothing I wasnt doing myself anyway) and we were then told we would have to wait to be ttc 2 years to be put on list for IUI then have 3 of these before going on IVF list. We have therefore opted for a private round of IVF in between as I was so fed up of waiting. If this doesnt work we still get one free shot with NHS. Its such a frustrating non diagnosis and the NHS seem to just delay treatment in the hope you will just get pregnant in the meantime. The good news is a lot of people with unexplained do eventually get pregnant naturally or respond really well to other treatment. Good luck hun x

 

[SpicyWolf]

That is frustrating - I think it should be your decision when you are ready for IVF! We are also unexplained (except for 2% morph, but overall count over 500mil so not really an issue) and decided we would voluntarily give it a full 3 years before we do IVF - mostly because it is not covered by our insurance so I want to make sure we do everything we can before paying the $30,000 out of pocket. So far Clomid has not worked, although I'm currently on a break from it. My Dr. said we could move on to more "extreme" measures whenever we're ready. Best of luck to you!

 

[xxBubsxx]

Hi ladies
Thanks for your replies, it's useful to hear what options have been offered to others.

Kittycat u are dead right just seems to be a delay tactic for the NHS. When u starting on the first IVF? I was reading a paper today that said success rates for IVF for unexplained infertility couples were pretty good so fingers crossed for you. Our FS said even if we were to throw a bunch of money at him he still wouldn't be willing to refer us for IVF privately! ... The more I think about that appointment we had, the more pissed off I'm getting!

Spicywolf, I really feel for you having to find that money. I don't really feel like I should complain about the NHS cause at least I will get some free treatment even if it takes them a while to get around to us. Hope you get some joy soon.

Cookiedough - best of luck for your first round of clomid

 

[lovecutie1]

Hi ladies
Thanks for your replies, it's useful to hear what options have been offered to others.

Kittycat u are dead right just seems to be a delay tactic for the NHS. When u starting on the first IVF? I was reading a paper today that said success rates for IVF for unexplained infertility couples were pretty good so fingers crossed for you. Our FS said even if we were to throw a bunch of money at him he still wouldn't be willing to refer us for IVF privately! ... The more I think about that appointment we had, the more pissed off I'm getting!

Spicywolf, I really feel for you having to find that money. I don't really feel like I should complain about the NHS cause at least I will get some free treatment even if it takes them a while to get around to us. Hope you get some joy soon.

Cookiedough - best of luck for your first round of clomid

Hi All, I am also on this Unexplained category I was so upset today...I had 6 failed IUI (3 with clomid and 3 without clmid) I reacted very well, but all in vain sometimes I want to kill myself sometimes I feel pitty for myself......

 

[megangrohl]

Thats how I feel too lovecutie1. So depressing, makes me feel like less of a woman because I can't even do what a woman is meant to do

 

[Whitbit22]

We have been trying 4 years now and are unexplained. Maybe you can ask about what processes you need to go through to try IUI at your follow-up? I have read that IUI can be pretty successful with unexplained, and this is what we are going to try soon. IVF is far off for us due to financial reasons, but I say hey why not give it a go? A lot of doctors won't do more than three IUIs because the chances of it working after that are slim. We tried clomid 4 cycles but I had an awful cystic reaction to it. If you are ovulating I would put that off if I were you.

 

[Maybemommy23]

Megangrohl- that's exactly how I feel. Why can't my body just do what it was designed to do?!
XXBubsxx- is there anyway you can get a new FS, yours sounds terrible! There are a million tests and treatments for unexplained infertility before rushing in to ivf. Clomid, injectables, Iui...the list goes on.
Good luck!

 

[xxBubsxx]

Hi ladies thanks for the replies.

Whitbit - congratulations!! Thanks for the advice about clomid. What has been successful for you?

Maybemommy23- I know I'd love to but unless we moved house to another part of Scotland, or paid to go private this FS is all we have. Feeling pretty fed up but my plan is to get clued up on all the options and demand answers when we go back to see him in January.

Lovecutie1 - so sorry for your disappointing result, I hope you're feeling a bit better now.

 

[Whitbit22]

Thank you hun, and I'd have to agree with Maybemommy. There are so many more options, but most important find out if you are ovulating by temping or using strips. I ovulate normally every month and the clomid hyperstimulated me. For me last year I got preg after an HSG that showed my clear tubes, it ended in a mc, but I found out I had out of whack hormones. My doc put me on Dexamethasone to correct it, and it worked.. to be honest we were barely even trying and only had sex one or two days around my fertile time.. 4 years ttc is so taxing.

Do your own research and find a doc thats willing to work with you- I've been through several. Good luck!

 

[nixy9]

Hey bubs,

i was reading your posts and just thought i would drop in to day that i am in exactly the same position as all you ladies. We have been trying to concieve for about 22 months now. Went to the specialist last december got a lap and dye in feb and hubby got check out. We have got the all clear and got told to come back in 7 months so attending the clinic again in September. I have no idea what they are going to tell me, we are NHS tayside so its proberley a very long list for IVF/IUI.

Its such a long journey and left feeling like I will never be a mum!

Good luck to you all hope you all get your BFPs soon!
xx

 

[xxBubsxx]

Hey Nixy

Just noticed your post. I'd be really interested to hear what the waiting lists are like in Tayside and what they suggest for you in terms of treatment. We live right on the border between Grampian and Tayside.

Weirdly enough, just got a letter through this morning from the fertility clinic .... letting us know we are officially on the waiting list for IVF??!! Not sure what's happened, FS sounded sure that he wasn't going to refer us anytime soon. Don't know if this is a mistake but don't think we'll be arguing! Letter says we could be getting our first cycle October 2013.

 

[cooch]

Just curious BUBS but where abouts in \Scotland are you? We have been referred and told how long til we have treatment. This is before I have lap and dye as that is to confirm whether or not my tubes are working correctly.

Was it your GP or specialist at hospital that told you they won't refer you???