Unexplained infertility.

[smile2012]

Hello there,

I am 25 and have been trying to conceive for 2 and a half years now and here is my story.

I have been to the doctors and have had blood tests to check that I am ovulating, which I am. My husband has had a semen test, which is perfectly fine. I have had an xray of my womb and fallopian tubes to check for blockages which is also fine. I have now been told that I come under the 'unexplained infertility' category.

I am finding this very difficult to deal with as I have been told to continue to try or to look at IVF. I cannot get this on the NHS until I am 30 however.

I was wondering if anyone is going through the same sort of thing? I am driving myself crazy!!! Has anyone got a similar story that was successful int he end? Has anyone had private fertility care that they would advise.

Please help me and thank you in advice?

 

[phoenixrose]

I was unexplained until I went to a different doctor. When I switched doctors then the new one found that I have polycystic ovaries, but not the syndrome as I don't have abnormal hormone levels or other symptoms of PCOS. Unexplained just means they don't know why, it doesn't mean that there is literally no answer. Plus I've been doing some research on the immune system and how it plays a role in fertility and this is where a lot of 'unexplained' comes from, but most everyone is not tested for immune issues unless they've had recurrent miscarriages which means that the ones that are having implantation issues and not actual miscarriages may never know. I'm considering making an appointment with a reproductive immunologist to see if this might be a problem with me as we've been trying for 2+ years. I'm not completely 'unexplained' but I don't feel like what they've found is significant enough.

 

[Lizzy444]

Like you, I had blood work, my DH had a SA, and I had an HSG. All looked pretty good, thus my infertility (18ish months) was unexplained. However, 4 weeks ago I had a laparoscopy and they found endometriosis! I had no symptoms so was surprised, but thankful too because they were able to fix it.

That to say....and I know that this is handled differently in other countries (I'm in the US)....I wonder if a laparoscopy would be beneficial.

 

[LaurenTCanada]

I was unexplained until I went to a different doctor. When I switched doctors then the new one found that I have polycystic ovaries, but not the syndrome as I don't have abnormal hormone levels or other symptoms of PCOS. Unexplained just means they don't know why, it doesn't mean that there is literally no answer. Plus I've been doing some research on the immune system and how it plays a role in fertility and this is where a lot of 'unexplained' comes from, but most everyone is not tested for immune issues unless they've had recurrent miscarriages which means that the ones that are having implantation issues and not actual miscarriages may never know. I'm considering making an appointment with a reproductive immunologist to see if this might be a problem with me as we've been trying for 2+ years. I'm not completely 'unexplained' but I don't feel like what they've found is significant enough.

How come you're on your final round of clomid already? Aren't they going to bump up the dosage to 100mg at least before they rule clomid out?

 

[phoenixrose]

I was unexplained until I went to a different doctor. When I switched doctors then the new one found that I have polycystic ovaries, but not the syndrome as I don't have abnormal hormone levels or other symptoms of PCOS. Unexplained just means they don't know why, it doesn't mean that there is literally no answer. Plus I've been doing some research on the immune system and how it plays a role in fertility and this is where a lot of 'unexplained' comes from, but most everyone is not tested for immune issues unless they've had recurrent miscarriages which means that the ones that are having implantation issues and not actual miscarriages may never know. I'm considering making an appointment with a reproductive immunologist to see if this might be a problem with me as we've been trying for 2+ years. I'm not completely 'unexplained' but I don't feel like what they've found is significant enough.

How come you're on your final round of clomid already? Aren't they going to bump up the dosage to 100mg at least before they rule clomid out?

I ovulated on my own but my eggs weren't maturing properly and I was O'ing late and I have polycystic ovaries (but not the syndrome as I have no other symptoms & hormones are fine). So, the clomid seemed to do its job. I had 1 follicle 22mm, the 1st round and 2 follicles, 17mm & 20mm the 2nd round. Also, the doc doesn't see the point of doing more then 3 rounds as the % who get pg after 3 rounds doesn't justify me spending more $ on it. It's not like the doc is giving up though, it's just onto injectibles if it's another bfn.

 

[AndreaFlorida]

I'm in your shoes I'm 27 and have had an HSG which opened my left tube up so now both tubes are open and on cycle 24 fx and lots of love to you and prayers! God bless!!!

 

[LaurenTCanada]

I ovulated on my own but my eggs weren't maturing properly and I was O'ing late and I have polycystic ovaries (but not the syndrome as I have no other symptoms & hormones are fine). So, the clomid seemed to do its job. I had 1 follicle 22mm, the 1st round and 2 follicles, 17mm & 20mm the 2nd round. Also, the doc doesn't see the point of doing more then 3 rounds as the % who get pg after 3 rounds doesn't justify me spending more $ on it. It's not like the doc is giving up though, it's just onto injectibles if it's another bfn.

Ok, gotchya! Yes, hopefully injectibles will have better results. How do you feel about that? I will probably move onto injectibles if I have no BFP in a few months time. I don't know how I could ever give myself a needle! Do you know how many needles you have to have per day?

 

[Lizzy444]

About injectibles....

I've done a few cycles with them and they are not as bad as I thought I'm sure it depends on what kind you do, but I did the FSH injection for 4-5 days...just one injection per day. I'd do the HSG after that, and that was just one injection. And my husband did them for me because I can't stand the thought of jabbing myself with a needle

The needle for me was super small and I could most of the time barely feel the poke...but could feel the meds going into me.

 

[EwiTTC]

Smile 2012 -
Hi, my husband and I have done the same tests and our results are the same - Unexplained-

However, my Dr. recommended an Clomid + HCG shot + IUI for 3 cycles before we even consider IVF. I am waiting for AF to start to schedule.

Good luck!

 

[BlueStorm]

I would also recommend finding out if a Lap would be possible. I had one done b\c they thought I had a dermoid cyst and it turned out that I had stage III endo. I would have never known I had it otherwise.

Best of luck!

 

[babyhope2011]

also in the same boat as u all, i start ivf next month good luck

 

[mattison]

I just wanted to tell you to not give up hope!

I had tried for my LO for close to 5 years, no BC for a year prior to trying, clean bill of health, etc.. and young (I am going to be 23 --yes, I started young, another story, haha) and no luck. I did have very irrgeular periods, though. However, I wasn't very concerned. Just figured one day it'd happen.

Well a year before becoming pregnant I just had this sad feeling that I would never get pregnant and actually remarked to my fiance that he better not expect a baby because it was not happening for us.

Then we found out we were expecting our bubs...after 5 years of nothing!

So, I cannot offer advice to you other than to just keep hope because if it is meant to be it will happen. Just keep trying because you never know. And you have tons of support here. I will keep you (all of you lovely ladies) in my thoughts

 

[phoenixrose]

I ovulated on my own but my eggs weren't maturing properly and I was O'ing late and I have polycystic ovaries (but not the syndrome as I have no other symptoms & hormones are fine). So, the clomid seemed to do its job. I had 1 follicle 22mm, the 1st round and 2 follicles, 17mm & 20mm the 2nd round. Also, the doc doesn't see the point of doing more then 3 rounds as the % who get pg after 3 rounds doesn't justify me spending more $ on it. It's not like the doc is giving up though, it's just onto injectibles if it's another bfn.

Ok, gotchya! Yes, hopefully injectibles will have better results. How do you feel about that? I will probably move onto injectibles if I have no BFP in a few months time. I don't know how I could ever give myself a needle! Do you know how many needles you have to have per day?

Right now...I just feel like I'm willing to try anything. I'm not sure about the injections but it sounds like the ones Lizzy444 was talking about as my doc said fsh injections. I don't think I could give myself the shot either, I would have to get my hubby to do it.