How to Deal with Unexplained Infertility
When people decide to start a family, they generally expect it to happen pretty quickly, but that’s often not how it works. It can take several months for a woman to conceive. And many people still aren’t pregnant even after a year of trying.
When pregnancy attempts are continually unsuccessful, it is time to consider undergoing a fertility evaluation. However, in some cases, no fertility issues are identified. So, how can patients deal with unexplained infertility? At her Houston, TX, practice, serving Sugar Land, TX, and surrounding areas, Dr. Sonja B. Kristiansen offers a range of infertility treatments to increase the chance of pregnancy.
If the cause of infertility is unexplained, that doesn’t mean that our patients have no hope for conceiving a child. Here, we discuss how we help our patients achieve their dream of parenthood, even when we’re not sure exactly what is causing fertility problems.
Stay Positive
Dr. Kristiansen and her team of fertility specialists understand that it can be extremely disheartening when attempts to become pregnant continually fail. However, we urge patients not to panic and give up hope. Stress and anxiety can actually make it more difficult to conceive, so it is important to try to maintain a positive frame of mind. We can assure patients that we have helped many people experience the joys of parenthood, even when we have been unable to determine what is causing difficulty getting pregnant.
Consider Lifestyle Changes
If a thorough fertility evaluation does not provide answers for what is causing infertility, we may suggest some lifestyle changes before proceeding with fertility treatment. However, this is all dependent on the patient’s age and general health.
If patients are young, we may suggest changing some habits while continuing to try to conceive naturally. Potential changes include weight loss, weight gain, adopting a more nutritious diet, changing exercise practices, or quitting smoking. Dr. Kristiansen can make specific suggestions based on each patient’s unique situation.
In some cases, there may be no for lifestyle changes. If patients are more advanced in age, if they are overwhelmed with their situation, or if there are no habits that cause concern, we may proceed straight to fertility treatment.
Undergo Infertility Treatments
Several of our fertility techniques address various sources of infertility, so they can be successful even when infertility is unexplained.
One technique that may be suggested for unexplained infertility is intrauterine insemination, or IUI. During an IUI procedure, concentrated semen is administered in the woman’s uterus. IUI is typically performed alongside ovarian stimulation. This allows us to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs, and then time IUI treatment so it coincides with ovulation.
Another option for unexplained infertility is in vitro fertilization, or IVF. IVF is a multi-stage procedure that starts with ovarian stimulation. For this treatment, mature eggs are retrieved and fertilized in a laboratory. After several days of evaluation, the healthiest embryo, or embryos, are transferred directly to the uterus, where they will hopefully implant and result in a successful pregnancy.
Consider a Surrogate or Donor
Many patients with unexplained infertility find success with one of the abovementioned fertility treatments. However, if a patient has had multiple failed cycles of IUI or IVF, it may be time to consider using a surrogate or an egg or sperm donor. Dr. Kristiansen can discuss this option in further detail with those patients who may benefit from this process.
Contact Us
At the Houston Fertility Center, Dr. Sonja Kristiansen and her team offer a comprehensive range of fertility treatments to address a variety of infertility causes. To learn more about our services and how they may benefit you, send us a message at your earliest convenience or call (713) 225-5375.
