Being still one of the most common problems couples nowadays face, infertility is also the biggest challenge that reproductive medicine is facing. The occurrence of problems in any of the steps required to get pregnant (ovulation, fertilization, transfer of the embryo, implantation) can result in infertility in 1 of 7 couples trying to get pregnant.
The complexity and the sensitivity of the process of getting pregnant imply a high probability of occurrence of a spectrum of reasons that can cause difficulties to get pregnant, or to carry out a healthy pregnancy.
Unfortunately, this wide spectrum is not steady and constant, and some of the reasons are subtle, and still not absolutely certain or are beyond the possibilities of the standard diagnostics. Therefore, 20-30% of the couple struggling with starting a family are often diagnosed with unexplained infertility.
Our medical team at EuroCARE is also aware of unexplained infertility problems and we hope that answering your questions related to this topic will reduce the pressure of the unknown and will boost your confidence to reach us out for finding a suitable solution for you.
So, if you’ve been trying to start a family and you have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, or you are concerned by this topic, here’s everything you should know about the diagnosis, the possible causes, and how IVF can help you get pregnant.
Understanding unexplained infertility
Unexplained infertility is diagnosed when all the basic procedure test results are normal, but the couple is still unable to conceive. For a woman (or a couple) to be diagnosed with infertility, certain conditions should be fulfilled:
- 12 months or more of natural conception attempts for women under 35
- 6 months or more of failing attempts for women over 35
In addition, the results of your complete infertility tests should show no abnormality in the reproductive system of both partners.
The fact that no abnormality has been found during the infertility evaluation, but the cause remains unexplained, doesn’t rule out your chance to find the answer and start a family!
So, put a smile on your face and continue reading!
Infertility evaluation
Infertility can appear in any of the partners. Statistics have shown that in one-third of the couples having difficulties with getting pregnant, both partners are experiencing problems that are identically causing overall infertility, and in 8% of the couples, problems detected in the male partner are the only ones causing infertility. Here’s an overview of the standard evaluation for infertility in both women and men performed at EuroCARE IVF in Cyprus:
Female partner
- Assessment of ovulation (e.g. body basal temperature charts, luteinizing hormone test, progesterone test)
- Assessment of reproductive organs using an ultrasound scan
- Tests for ovarian reserve (such as anti-Mullerian hormone test, Follicle-stimulating hormone test, Antral follicle count scan)
- Laparoscopy (in case of endometriosis)
Male partner
- Semen analysis to measure sperm count, motility and shape
- Physical examination to look for testicular abnormalities
Both partners
- Infectious disease screening (HIV, Hepatitis B, and C)
Why no causes are detected?
When faced with the diagnosis of unexplained infertility, it’s important to realize that the standard infertility tests have certain limitations. These may include:
- Insufficient (or none) egg/sperm quality monitoring and evaluation
- Inadequate evaluation of sperm’s DNA
- Lack of measurability of the subtle infertility reasons
Although, the basic infertility testing combined with the IVF procedures can provide a complete answer and evaluation of some of the factors that can not be completely determined by the basic infertility evaluations alone.
What can be a subtle reason affecting your fertility?
As technology is becoming more advanced and new sophisticated tests have been introduced, scientists are able canto discover some of the hidden reasons behind infertility. These may include:
- Poor egg quality
- Sperm DNA damage
- Mild endometriosis
- Hostile cervical mucus
- Embryo quality
- Undiagnosed or untreated medical problem (e.g. untreated celiac disease, diabetes, thyroid disorder, autoimmune disease)
How to get pregnant with unexplained infertility?
The statistics show that 20-30 % of the patients will be diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Although it’s one of the most unpleasant diagnoses, getting pregnant with unexplained infertility is definitely possible with numerous fertility treatments that have been proven successful!
Fertility treatments depend on the cause of your infertility. In the case of unexplained infertility, the treatment has empirical character, because it is difficult to address a specific cause or malfunction. Thus, it requires performing more diagnostic steps and procedures that can precisely examine, and prevent every possible reason for infertility. Also, the treatment of unexplained infertility requires rich clinical experience and advanced technology implementation.
Silver lining: EuroCARE is providing both! The best IVF doctors in Cyprus and advanced equipped facilities and laboratories.
First-line treatments for unexplained infertility that our EuroCARE IVF fertility specialists would recommend:
- Timed intercourse with positive lifestyle changes (e.g. no cigarette smoking, normal body mass index (BMI), moderate caffeine and alcohol consumption, regular exercise)
- IUI Cyprus (Intrauterine insemination (IUI) with fertility medication (e.g. Clomid, gonadotropins)
Although these treatments are easily affordable and effective in certain cases, they are unfortunately limited in their scope. For instance, for treating infertility in women over the age of 40, IVF as high – tech treatments are recommended as a primary treatment.
Limitations of low-tech treatments
Timed intercourse
- Lowest success rates
- It takes the longest to conceive
- Sometimes it’s hard to predict ovulation or ovulation may be absent (ovulation disorders)
IUI with Clomid
- Low success rates
- Risk of multiple pregnancies
- Risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
IVF: The best way to get pregnant
In vitro fertilization (IVF) Cyprus (In vitro fertilization ) is a common fertility treatment that has the highest success rates of all conception techniques. Combining revolutionary technology with a scientific approach, this treatment approaches the infertility problem from many aspects and through several steps involving fertility drugs and medical procedures brings joy in the homes of many couples that have been struggling with infertility.
The procedure involves retrieving eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them with the male partner’s (or donor sperm) outside of the female body in high-tech laboratories. The resulting embryos (fertilized eggs) are then transferred into a woman’s uterus.
Since all the stages of conception with IVF (fertilization, embryo development, and implantation) are closely monitored during the procedure by the specialized embryologists, there is also a possibility to detect the hidden causes of unexplained infertility.
IVF has been proven successful in treating male and female infertility caused by a variety of reasons, such as:
- Genetic diseases of one or both partners
- Ovulation problems
- Problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis
- Poor sperm quality and insufficient sperm count
- Presence of harmful antibody
- The inability of sperm to penetrate and sustain in the cervical mucus
- Undetermined reasons causing infertility
Procedures to ensure IVF success
The standard IVF procedures include:
- COH (Control ovarian hyperstimulation)
- Egg retrieval
- Fertilization (With ICSI application)
- Evaluation of the embryo quality by a specialized embryologist
- Fragmentation control (Control of the cell division of the embryo)
- Quality control of the embryo in the more advanced stage, also known as a blastocyst
- Placement of the embryo in a woman’s uterus
In addition, several other procedures can be carried out, in order to increase the chances of receiving quality embryo and healthy pregnancy. Within this group of procedures are:
- Laser-assisted hatching (In cases of previously experienced implantation failures)
- Procedures implemented in cases of detected semen’s problems (TESA or TESE)
- Advanced embryo evaluation and testing (PGD Cyprus – Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, PGS Cyprus – Preimplantation Genetic Scanning, CCS – Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening), specifically recommended being performed in cases of unexplained infertility, the potential of genetic disorder transfer, for couples in advance age, and multiple IVF failures.
The above-mentioned procedures are coping with advanced and diverse quality control of both the eggs and semen before the implantation of the embryo. This is the most important benefit from these procedures, as they can indicate, treat and improve the quality of IVF outcome.
Discovering unknown reasons for infertility
As it was presented above, IVF as a treatment is a complex series of steps and procedures, and most importantly, constant, close and multiple monitoring of the quality factors that lead to successful conception. Unlike natural conception, fertilization with IVF takes place in a highly-controlled laboratory setting and is done under high accurate microscopes. Using a combination of expertise and cutting-edge technology, IVF sometimes reveals the hidden reasons for your infertility problem.
IVF success rates
When it comes to treating unexplained infertility, IVF offers the best chances for pregnancy success. Below are the success rates of IVF using a couple’s own eggs and sperm at the EuroCARE IVF clinic in North Cyprus:
- 20-29 years: 78%
- 30 to 34 years: 67%
- 35-39: 49%
- 40-44: 29%
Egg donation an alternative option
If after a performed IVF treatment the couple is still unable to get pregnant, and a problem with the low-quality eggs has been detected after careful monitoring during these cycles, egg donation can be the solution to help you start your family.
Egg donation Cyprus is a type of third-party IVF treatment that involves collecting eggs from another woman (egg donor) and fertilizing them at the lab with your male partner’s sperm (or donor sperm). The resulting embryos are transferred to the patient’s uterus to attempt pregnancy.
Egg donation is suitable for patients with:
- Low-quality eggs
- Early menopause
- Premature ovarian insufficiency
- Failed IVF cycles due to the low quality of your eggs
The EuroCARE IVF egg donation program is beneficial for women who have failed to get pregnant after multiple IVF cycles, those who belong in the hundreds of women struggling with low ovarian reserve, women experiencing premature menopause and those who are in more advanced reproductive age.
Thanks to the detailed and high – quality medical examination of the donors, the expertise of the team and advanced technological conditions, egg donation at the EuroCARE IVF clinic, is one of the most successful fertility treatment in Cyprus. The percentage of a successful pregnancy through IVF using donor eggs at the EuroCARE IVF clinic in North Cyprus are as follows:
- under 35 years: 80%
- 35-39: 79%
- 40-44: 78%
- 45+ : 70%
Egg donation success rates, only emphasize the fact that even if diagnosed with unexplained infertility, you should not lose hope and let the frustrations affect your overall health. Thanks to these advanced technologies, it is possible to find a suitable set of IVF procedures for you.
Some things are beyond control
Although this might seem scary at first glance, it is completely true. All the advanced technologies, research in the field of infertility, expertise implemented into the treatments of infertility can not cope with the lifestyle of the couple and factors that are affecting them daily.
Therefore, each couple, with or without diagnosed unexplained infertility, especially those planning to reach for the help of assisted reproductive technologies, should be extremely careful and persistent in applying different life changes such as: avoid (rather quit) smoking, reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption, keep their exercising routines, nutritional changes, reducing stress.
To sum up, keeping your body healthy and preserve your overall health, will definitely benefit your reproductive health, in some cases prevent infertility, but also will immensely increase the chances of successful IVF treatment.
Whatever your case, there’s still hope!
As one of the most prosperous fertility clinics in North Cyprus, EuroCARE is also focused on bringing this topic closer to you in an attempt to raise your optimism for starting a family. We understand that dealing with infertility – and especially when it’s unexplained – can be very difficult for you (and your partner). No matter your circumstances, IVF in Cyprus can offer fresh hope to women and couples alike in the building (or growing) their families from all over the World.
EuroCARE: Your partner on the journey to parenthood
The IVF Cyprus treatments that EuroCARE is offering to you are well known not only by the high – quality and high success rates but are also recognized as affordable. We want to make sure that every couple struggling to get pregnant, would be able to pursue them. Therefore, you should not be worried about the cost of IVF treatments.
Our priority is to find the best possible way to help you experience the joy of becoming a parent. That includes being aware of the financial burden that the process of treating infertility can be for both young couples and those who have already invested a lot in it. Therefore, we provide low – cost IVF treatments that you can find within our infertility treatment packages.
Thus, we are encouraging you to begin your journey to parenthood today and book a free fertility medical consultation with our fertility specialist – without paying a penny!