AssistedConception.org

A diagnosis of ‘unexplained’ infertility felt to me, like no diagnosis at all. How can I know how to feel or what to expect when the medical profession pretty much says ‘dunno’? I have met couples facing many different challenges to their becoming parents and each brings its own problems and issues. When a diagnosis can be determined, so can a course of action. My experience of ‘unexplained’ infertility was that you start at the beginning with every test under the sun, and work your way through the treatments on offer starting at the least invasive and working your way up; a very time consuming business.

Our journey began in 1997. Initial tests of my husband and I by our GP, showed no obvious problems. After referral to the Infertility Department of our local hospital, I had a tracking cycle (blood taken every second day during a cycle to check hormone levels along with vaginal scans to check that follicles were developing) which showed no problems with my hormones. A laparoscopy then followed which showed no blockages or other internal issues. My husband had some less than fantastic semen analysis results, but nothing that was highlighted as a potential problem and we were recommended IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination).

We had 6 unsuccessful IUI treatments before moving to the Royal Infirmary for IVF. It was at this time that we were told that my husband’s sperm count was too low for IVF and we would have to have ICSI. This was a real blow as I found it hard to imagine how IUI could ever have worked with a compromised sperm count and it seemed that all that time and emotional effort of the IUI treatments may have been in vain. I was always a ‘fan’ of IUI (if you could call it that) due to its less invasive nature and the hospital I attended did it without down regulating so it was a fairly simple procedure. It really took it out of me emotionally however, and regardless of how easy the procedure may be, the disappointment and grief at a failed outcome is the same. I was shattered.

But after a wee break, we collected ourselves and started a cycle of ICSI. I had no trouble with the drugs and 6 mature eggs were collected. Unfortunately, only one fertilized and could be transferred. We tried to console ourselves with the fact that normal conception only takes one but I found it very hard to be positive. It seemed almost inevitable that it would fail and 2 days before my test date, I began a period.

This took a lot of getting over and the thought of any more treatment was more than I could face and after much soul searching, we decided to call it a day.

My journey through Unexplained Infertility took 7 years from beginning to end and involved much heartache and disappointment, as all unsuccessful treatment does. I found it so frustrating that the Doctors suggested that there was no reason why I couldn’t get pregnant, and my response was always, ‘well why the hell aren’t I, then?’. My husband would console me with the fact that it didn’t necessarily mean that there was nothing wrong, it was just that medical science couldn’t determine it as yet. A small comfort. However, some clouds in life do have a silver lining. After an enormous amount of personal upheaval and upset, I now find myself due to have a baby, conceived naturally, in two weeks time. My wee boy will seem like a miracle when he arrives and I can’t wait. For those suffering the uncertainty of Unexplained Infertility which can seem like a life sentence, take heart. Take what science has to offer, but never stop trying yourselves as nature seems to have a way of making things work and miracles do happen.