All Reports are OK, still cannot conceive. What to do?

What is Unexplained Infertility (UI)?

When after more than one year of regular frequent intercourse a couple is unable to conceive and all of the 4 of the following reports are normal, that is called UI.

1. Semen analysis of male

2. Ultrasound of female- to look for uterus and ovaries

3. Hormones tests for female (Blood)- to look for ovarian function

4. Checking the tubes- HSG/ SIS/ Laparoscopy

Is UI very rare?

After one cycle (one month) of regular frequent intercourse, the chance of conception in human being is only 15%. That means, out of 100 couples trying for conception, only 15 will be able to succeed after one month of trying. Out of 10 couples struggling to conceive, 3 are found to have UI.

How UI is treated?

The treatment depends on your age and duration of trying. The usual steps are ovulation induction (OI), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro fertilization (IVF) respectively.

In OI, Medicines (tablets, injection) are given to help your eggs grow and rupture. If the eggs rupture, the chance of pregnancy per cycle is 15% and after 4-6 cycles of OI, it is nearly 50-60%.

In IUI, along with medicines given for OI, husband’s sperm is collected, processed (“preparation�) and then inserted inside the uterus. The success rate is 15-20% per cycle.

If a woman fails to conceive after 4-6 cycles of IUI, if the age is on higher side, infertility is of more than two years duration, IVF is advised. The success rate is 40-50% per cycle. IVF is considered the “most advanced� treatment, as it could give explanation why natural trying or IUI failed.

How is the success rate?

UI has one of the best chance of success.