Unexplained Infertility: Treatment Options in Ottawa

Unexplained infertility treatment options in Ottawa, ON Canada are available to help support a healthy pregnancy. Unexplained infertility, in many cases, is not that there is nothing wrong, but simply we are unable to determine what may be causing the infertility. To help specify the best treatment options for you, there must be a thorough investigation in to both partners first. 

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In many cases, unexplained infertility is the result of not one, but many 'minor' issues. When you have multiple small issues, each decreasing the chances of pregnancy, together it translates in to a delayed time to pregnancy or an increased risk of miscarriage. 

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Common Factors Increasing the Risk of Unexplained Infertility

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1. Thin Uterine lining: many Women believe that their uterine lining thickness is fine, especially because there was no issue during their previous In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). However, this is a false belief because the medications given during these assisted reproductive treatments increase the lining thickness. And Ultrasounds done throughout the initial diagnosis don't necessarily evaluate for the thickness of the uterine lining. The best way to know is to have a transvaginal ultrasound done in the middle of the cycle (a few days after ovulation) to assess for the thickness. A common sign that you may have a thin lining is that you may notice you have very light periods. Usually less than 3-4 days of medium to heavy flow may be considered light, and may signal that there is a thin uterine lining.

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2. Suboptimal Sperm Health: When it comes to fertility, it is important to understand the value of male fertility. Just because a male partner meets the "Minimum" requirements does not mean that he has no role with the infertility. Suboptimal levels are not flagged during the sperm analysis, so it will go unnoticed, and you may think there is actually no issue. If the sperm health is improved to the optimal range, it can significantly support a shorter time to pregnancy. When it comes to the sperm health, the sky is the limit when it comes to improving the numbers.

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3. Low Progesterone: If your luteal phase is 12 days or less, or you notice significant spotting during your luteal phase, you may have low progesterone. Blood tests are not as reliable as the symptoms just mentioned, this is because the progesterone in the blood can change by up to 5x in the matter of just a couple of hours. Blood levels fluctuate constantly and are not an accurate estimate of the progesterone levels in the uterine lining and reproductive organs. 

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4. Low Egg Quality: Patients that are above the age of 35 or have an elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), decreased anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), and decreased antral follicle count (AFC) have a low ovarian reserve. Hand-in-hand with low ovarian reserve is a condition called low egg quality. It means the integrity of the follicle is low, it is less likely to fertilize, less likely to implant, and less likely to lead to a healthy pregnancy.

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5. Elevated Stress: high stress levels, especially when it becomes chronic, elevated the hormone cortisol in the blood. The increase in stress and cortisol levels shifts the blood flow to focus on the vital organs (brain, liver, skeletal muscle). Research has shown that elevated stress actually decreases the quality of the uterine lining, making implantation less likely.