When normal infertility testing has failed to find a cause for a couple’s or a woman’s failure to conceive, it is referred to as unexplained infertility. Some reproductive doctors believe that an unexplained infertility diagnosis is a non-diagnosis.
According to estimates, 15-30% of couples experiencing infertility are diagnosed with unexplained infertility. As a result, it is one of the leading reasons for infertility.
The difference in the estimated percentage of unexplained infertility is due to a disagreement among experts about what constitutes “standard infertility testing.” Testing can differ depending on the individual’s situation and the testing protocols used by their physician.
If a couple has failed to become pregnant for a year or longer with no evident cause of infertility, they are considered to have ‘unexplained infertility.’ Unexplained infertility, however, does not rule out the chance of conceiving. Many couples in this condition go on to have healthy children, either naturally or through fertility treatments.
Possible Causes of Unexplained Infertility
The causes of unexplained infertility are, by definition, unknown. It’s possible that a fertile person or couple will be diagnosed with unexplained infertility if they haven’t had any success conceiving after a year.
Similarly, some fertility doctors believe that one of the most common causes of unexplained infertility is that the tests used to diagnose infertility may have missed subtle defects due to insufficient testing procedures.
Unexpected infertility is more likely to be caused by:
Abnormalities in the Fallopian Tube: The inability to conceive can result from fallopian tube disorders because the sperm and egg cannot meet. Blocked fallopian tubes can be caused by endometriosis, surgery, or previous pelvic infections.
Psychological Issues: According to certain researches, if a person is emotionally distressed, their hormone cycle may be disturbed. Hormonal abnormalities are considered to create fertility issues since hormones are directly linked to the brain.
Sperm’s Inability to Penetrate Eggs: Fertilization can be affected by a blockage in either the male or female reproductive system. Or the cervical mucous could prevent sperm from moving through it. Even if sperm do manage to get to an egg, they might not be able to get beyond the egg’s shell.
Abnormalities During the Luteal Phase: During the female reproductive cycle, eggs are released into the luteal phase. If there are any anomalies during this phase, the female will have difficulty becoming pregnant. In females, the corpus luteum is responsible for the synthesis of progesterone hormone. Progesterone prepares the endometrial wall for the fertilised eggs to enter. Infertility can occur if sufficient levels of progesterone are not produced or if the endometrium does not respond to the hormone.
Poor Quality Eggs: One of the most common reasons of infertility, particularly in women over 35, is poor egg quality, which is driven on by a diminished ovarian reserve. The quality of the egg influences the quality of the embryo. Aneuploidy, or chromosomal abnormalities in embryos, are closely related to poor egg quality.
Immune System: A healthy and strong immune system is essential throughout pregnancy for the uterus to accept and nourish the embryo. The placenta must form and grow in order to support the proper development of the foetus, and particular blood vessels are triggered by the immune system. An impaired immune system might raise the risk of illness and infection, which can reduce the chances of getting pregnant.
Trapped Eggs: There are a few cases where the eggs are formed normally and healthily, but the corpus luteum remains intact, trapping the eggs inside.
Infections: Both male and female infertility are significantly influenced by infection. The most common infections connected to infertility include tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Male fertility may be impacted by infection in a variety of ways, including epididymal or ductal blockage, testicular injury from orchitis, the formation of anti-sperm antibodies, etc.
Endometrium Problems: Endometriosis affects 6 to 10% of women in the overall female population. This prevalence rises to 35 to 50% in women who have pain, infertility, or both. Endometriosis affects 25 to 50% of infertile women, while 30 to 50% of endometriosis patients are infertile.
