A Complete Encyclopedia of Unexplained Infertility Causes & Symptoms

Team L&M

Around 15 per cent of couples around the globe facing infertility are often told by the doctor that they have a condition called ‘unexplained infertility’. It is also often called idiopathic infertility. Treatments include fertility medication, lifestyle changes, intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). But before we get into this and more, we want you to understand that it could be a female factor or due to infertility causes in males. And we also want you to understand all the basics about this medical condition…

What is Unexplained Infertility?

Unexplained infertility is when a couple can’t get pregnant even though doctors can’t find a specific reason why. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle without knowing all the pieces. For example, a woman might have regular periods, a healthy uterus, and her partner’s sperm is normal, but they still can’t conceive. It can be frustrating because there’s no clear answer, but doctors can help explore different options to improve the chances of getting pregnant, like IVF treatments or lifestyle changes.

Potential causes of Unexplained Infertility in Men and Women

As we mentioned above, the issues could be in the female genitals or causes of male factor infertility. We are listing all with simple examples as below:

 1. Uterine Issues in Women

Symptoms of infertility in women could be conditions like endometriosis or uterine fibroids. These can affect fertility by interfering with the menstrual cycle. Let us explain with a simple example, suppose that your Uterus is a garden bed where the embryo (fertilized egg) plants itself to grow. If there are weeds (like fibroids) or thorny bushes (like endometriosis), the embryo may struggle to take root.

 2. Ovulation Problems: 

Sometimes, the ovaries don’t release an egg regularly, which can make it hard to get pregnant. This could happen due to hormonal imbalances or issues with the ovaries themselves, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition is different from reasons for male infertility. How? Consider your ovaries are like farmers who grow crops (eggs). If the farmer forgets to plant seeds or plants them irregularly (if you don’t take off your body and stay stressed always), there won’t be any crops to harvest. So no eggs for a baby to be formed.

 3. Sperm Issues:

Among the top reasons for male infertility, could be unhealthy sperms. Healthy sperms are crucial for fertilizing the egg. Problems with sperm quality or quantity can affect fertility. This could be due to lifestyle factors like smoking fertility males affected, excessive alcohol intake, or any wrong medication or excessive medication taken. For example, your sperm are tiny swimmers trying to reach the egg. If they’re weak or too few, it’s like trying to swim against a strong current – they might not make it to the egg. So an unhealthy sperm is just one of the conditions for infertility causes in male.

4. Fallopian Tube Blockage:

The fallopian tubes are pathways that transport eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Blockages or damage to these tubes can prevent the egg from meeting the sperm. And this will also cause unexplained infertility

5. Lastly, it could be Unhealthy Lifestyle in both of you or one of you

Whether it is a female factor or symptoms of infertility in men, there are various causes that can cause infertile couples.   Factors such as obesity and infertility in males and females, poor diet intake by either man or wife, stress-based lifestyle, and lack of body movement or zero exercise are just the tip of the iceberg called unexplained infertility in both men and women. Your body is a garden that needs proper care. If you don’t water the plants (eat healthy), remove the weeds (exercise), or protect from pests (manage stress), the garden may not flourish. So, take care of the body!

Symptoms of Unexplained Infertility in Men and Women

1. Understanding Unexplained Infertility in Men:

Sometimes, men may face difficulties in becoming fathers even though there’s no clear reason why. This is called unexplained infertility. Men with unexplained infertility usually don’t have any symptoms of infertility in men. They may have normal sperm count and quality, but still struggle to conceive with their partner. For instance, a man may undergo medical tests and everything seems normal, yet he and his partner still can’t get pregnant.

 2. Understanding Unexplained Infertility in Women:

Unexplained infertility in women means they have trouble getting pregnant, but doctors can’t find a specific cause. This could be anything, like hormonal imbalance or blocked fallopian tubes. Women with unexplained infertility often have regular menstrual cycles and no obvious issues with their reproductive organs. For example, a woman may track her ovulation and everything seems normal, but she still can’t conceive after trying for a while.

Diagnosis of Unexplained Infertility in Men and Women

1. Diagnosis of unexplained infertility in Women:

In simple words, it’s like checking if all the parts of a car’s engine are working properly to find out why it won’t start. For women, diagnosis typically involves assessing ovulation, fallopian tube health, and uterine conditions. Tests may include tracking ovulation with ovulation predictor kits, checking for blocked fallopian tubes with a Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), and evaluating the uterus with a transvaginal ultrasound.

2. Diagnosis of Infertility Causes in Males:

In simple words, it means examining the fuel quality in a car to see if it’s affecting the engine’s performance. In men, diagnosis often involves analyzing sperm quality and quantity. Tests may include a semen analysis to check sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape).

3. Additional Testing for Finding Infertility causes in Male/Female

Sometimes, additional tests like hormone testing, genetic testing, or laparoscopic surgery may be necessary to uncover any underlying issues. These tests help doctors get a closer look at what might be causing the fertility challenges.

CAUTION: If a cause still cannot be found after initial testing, couples may be referred to specialists like reproductive endocrinologists or urologists for further evaluation and treatment options.

Psychological Impact of Unexplained Infertility on Couples and How to Handle it

Unexplained infertility in females or due to any reasons for male infertility, can be overall emotionally challenging for the couples. It can lead to feelings of frustration, sadness, and even guilt. For instance, imagine trying your best to achieve something important, like getting a promotion at work. If you do not nip the problem in the bud, then it can also strain relationships, as partners may cope with the situation differently. So whether it is symptoms of infertility in men, or that in women, you surely need medical advice and not just your friends’ emotional support.

In conclusion, we would just like to assert that whether you face causes of male factor infertility or uncertain causes of female infertility, please don’t be your own medical expert. Do not Google up the problem and try home remedies. Do not waste time and consult a proper fertility expert!