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It may, at first, seem disappointing that your tests have not come up with
an explanation but in terms of a successful outcome, you are more likely to
achieve a pregnancy either with or without treatment than if there were
evidence of severe male factor problems or tubal disease. In a summary of
the available evidence, it was found that clomiphene , IUI, and HMG each
double the chance of conception compared to no treatment (Figure
10.8). Figure 10.8 Cumulative pregnancy rates
for unexplained infertility.
Without treatment, IUI alone, ovarian
stimulation +IUI and IVF.
In vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer were originally
developed for infertile women who had no Fallopian tubes or
who had tubes that were irreversibly damaged. IVF and GIFT
(gamete intra Fallopian transfer eggs and sperm are
introduced into the Fallopian Tubes) have found places
for other causes of infertility including male factor and
unexplained infertility. IVF and GIFT include superovulation
(increase in the number of oocytes available for
fertilisation), and increasing the number of spermatozoa
directly available for each oocyte. For women with no
evidence of gross tubal disease, superovulation
(gonadotrophin injections) and intrauterine insemination
could provide some of the advantages of IVF or GIFT but with
less invasive procedures and at lower cost. Some authorities have recommended that IUI and
gonadotrophin injections should be offered to couples with
unexplained infertility before submitting them to IVF. A
successful outcome is more likely with four courses of this
combination than one course of IVF and this low-tech
approach is also more cost-effective. Patients with
unexplained infertility, who fail to conceive with IUI and
superovulation, prove to have a higher incidence of
fertilisation failure when they are treated by IVF than
patients with tubal factor infertility. Although there have been tremendous advances in the treatment of
infertility, it is a matter of frustration for all concerned that a
successful outcome cannot be guaranteed. Sometimes with IVF, fertilisation
failure may occur and this could explain for the couple concerned why other
treatments have been unsuccessful. The majority of human embryos are lost as
a result of implantation failure and any treatment that may reduce this
problem would be a major advance in infertility treatment. Low dose aspirin
(75 mg daily) improves pregnancy rates in patients with increased
antiphospholipid antibody (Q12.17). It may be difficult to know how long to continue with your
infertility treatment. Sometimes a counsellor may provide
assistance. It can be particularly difficult if one partner
is keen to continue and the other is not. There are times in
life when it is helpful to have a plan. You may, for
example, decide that you will continue for another six
months or a year and then stop. One of the difficulties for
you will be that inevitably, with current rates of progress,
you may live in hope that a new treatment will prove
effective. The medical profession never gives up and is
always seeking to improve. Rest assured that however busy
your carers may be, they will always have your best
interests at heart and they will share with you in any
success as well as failures. Recommended Book: Recommended Book:
This page was last updated 12th December 2006
Making Babies the Hard Way: Living with Infertility and Treatment
Unexplained Infertility
- Treatment
It may, at first, seem disappointing that your tests have not come up with
an explanation but in terms of a successful outcome, you are more likely to
achieve a pregnancy either with or without treatment than if there were
evidence of severe male factor problems or tubal disease. In a summary of
the available evidence, it was found that clomiphene , IUI, and HMG each
double the chance of conception compared to no treatment (Figure
10.8). Figure 10.8 Cumulative pregnancy rates
for unexplained infertility.
Without treatment, IUI alone, ovarian
stimulation +IUI and IVF.
In vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer were originally
developed for infertile women who had no Fallopian tubes or
who had tubes that were irreversibly damaged. IVF and GIFT
(gamete intra Fallopian transfer eggs and sperm are
introduced into the Fallopian Tubes) have found places
for other causes of infertility including male factor and
unexplained infertility. IVF and GIFT include superovulation
(increase in the number of oocytes available for
fertilisation), and increasing the number of spermatozoa
directly available for each oocyte. For women with no
evidence of gross tubal disease, superovulation
(gonadotrophin injections) and intrauterine insemination
could provide some of the advantages of IVF or GIFT but with
less invasive procedures and at lower cost. Some authorities have recommended that IUI and
gonadotrophin injections should be offered to couples with
unexplained infertility before submitting them to IVF. A
successful outcome is more likely with four courses of this
combination than one course of IVF and this low-tech
approach is also more cost-effective. Patients with
unexplained infertility, who fail to conceive with IUI and
superovulation, prove to have a higher incidence of
fertilisation failure when they are treated by IVF than
patients with tubal factor infertility. There is evidence
that flushing the Fallopian tubes during fertility
treatment may improve success rates.0601,
0801 Members of a support group, provide each other with
various types of help for a particular shared difficulty.
The support may take the form of providing relevant
information, relating personal experiences, listening to
others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and
establishing social networks. A support group may also
provide ancillary support, such as serving as a voice for
the public or engaging in advocacy. Support groups maintain
interpersonal contact among their members in a variety of
ways. Support groups also maintain contact through printed
newsletters, telephone chains, internet forums, and mailing
lists. Please click on the required question. DISCLAIMER The aim of this web site is to provide a
general guide and it is not intended as a substitute for a
consultation with an appropriate specialist in respect of
individual care and treatment. |
