According to Resolve.org, approximately one in five couples will be diagnosed with unexplained infertility even after a complete fertility workup.
But what exactly is unexplained infertility? And what options are available to you if you’re part of the 20% with unexplained infertility? Read on to learn more about unexplained infertility and the options available to you.
What is unexplained infertility?
For couples who have been trying to conceive without success, the first step is a consultation with a fertility specialist. At this consultation, the specialist will order a fertility workup, which will help them determine if:
- Your fallopian tubes are open and healthy
- Tests determine you have a healthy ovarian reserve
- Your uterine cavity has no issues impeding implantation of the embryo (such as fibroids)
- Your partner has a normal semen analysis
If it’s determined that there are no issues that should keep you from achieving and carrying a pregnancy after completing a full workup, your fertility doctor may diagnose you with unexplained infertility. While there is a reason that you and your partner are unable to conceive, the unexplained infertility diagnosis means there is no current way to evaluate what that reason is.
What options are available to you?
The first step for couples with unexplained infertility is the less invasive fertility options, including fertility medications and/or intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). This is usually enough for many couples with unexplained infertility to achieve a pregnancy. For couples who are still unable to conceive with medications or IUIs, the next step would be In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
In IVF, a woman’s ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs, and then they are retrieved using a surgical procedure. The eggs and sperm are then combined in a laboratory to make embryos, with a healthy embryo then transferred into the woman’s uterus.
Luckily, IVF is very successful at helping women achieve a pregnancy. But even if IVF is initially unsuccessful, it can reveal fertility issues that can’t be seen in the initial fertility workup– such as issues with egg or sperm quality which can keep an embryo from developing normally. If egg or sperm quality is the cause of infertility, you and your partner can then evaluate if using donor eggs or sperm would be an option for you.
An unexplained infertility diagnosis can be frustrating for couples who have been struggling to conceive. Luckily, the fertility specialists at IVF FLORIDA’s South Florida fertility clinics have years of experience helping couples with unexplained infertility build the family of their dreams. To schedule a consultation with one of our fertility doctors, contact us today at 954-247-6200.
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IVF FLORIDA at 9 Dec 2021
4 Reasons to Seek Fertility Treatment Early
The decision to have a baby is an exciting time for couples and individuals. But for some, getting pregnant is more difficult than expected. 1 in 8 married couples struggle with infertility in the U.S., and many people wait years to seek help. The fertility specialists at IVF FLORIDA discuss a few reasons why you should talk with a physician early.
Your Age: When it comes to fertility, age plays a role for both women and men. For couples, infertility is being unable to conceive after a year of trying – unless the woman is 35 or older. In those cases, couples should seek treatment after six months of trying without success.
Decreased Cost: Another benefit of seeking treatment early is reduced cost. When you discover you may face challenges conceiving, the sooner you explore your options the less expensive the process can be. If you are hesitant to start treatment due to financial commitment, IVF FLORIDA has affordable solutions to make treatment more accessible.
Overall Wellbeing: The workup patients receive at IVF FLORIDA when they start treatment can provide a wealth of general health information. For some men and women, infertility can be due to an underlying health issue - that they weren’t aware they had. These issues, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or thyroid disease, can cause a variety of past and future health problems ranging from hypertension to depression. Learning about underlying issues is the first step to treating and taking charge of your health.
Fertility Preservation: For women looking to delay parenthood, time is of the essence! Women can preserve their future fertility through egg freezing, enabling them to build a family when the time is right. However, women considering this option should move forward as soon as possible to increase their chances of success. As egg quality and quantity decline as women age, those who freeze their eggs earlier have a higher likelihood of freezing enough high-quality eggs to give them the best chance of conceiving in the future.
Early intervention offers the best chances of success, so let IVF FLORIDA help you get started. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call 954-247-6200.
You can also complete this simple form.
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IVF FLORIDA at 24 Nov 2021
To commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is celebrated in October, IVF FLORIDA is bringing awareness to the disease, early detection, and the available fertility options to those who are undergoing treatment.
No woman should fight breast cancer alone, and every woman should be aware of the risk factors, symptoms, and steps to early detection, as well as the available options when facing cancer treatments. One of the main concerns for women with breast cancer, especially for women who are of reproductive age, is whether or not they will be able to conceive after cancer treatments. Both chemotherapy and radiation can often damage sperm or eggs, leaving many patients infertile. Fortunately, egg freezing and fertility preservation are options that give women hope and the ability to conceive a child even after going through harsh cancer treatments.
Infertility Risks for Breast Cancer Patients
There are many factors involved in determining the risk of infertility after cancer treatment, such as age, treatment type, and underlying fertility potential. If the cancer is treatable by surgery alone, there is no risk of infertility (related to the cancer diagnosis). The jury is still out on radiation, as it may have some effect on fertility. However, there’s a clear correlation between chemotherapy and potential loss of fertility.
Chemotherapy can bring on premature ovarian failure, or even early menopause. Ovarian failure is similar to menopause in that the ovaries stop producing eggs and menstruation comes to a halt. Some women find that their ovaries regain function after a period of time has passed. However, older women or those who have had higher doses of chemotherapy may never regain ovarian function.
Pre-Cancer Fertility Preservation Options
If you’re a breast cancer patient who hopes to have children someday, educating yourself on fertility preservation options is one of the best steps you can take to maintain control of your future. Your doctor at IVF Florida will work closely with you to determine which choice is right for you.
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) & Embryo Banking: Embryo banking is the most established form of fertility preservation and is a wonderful option for women with a male partner or those interested in using donor sperm. IVF and embryo banking involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, combining the eggs with sperm in a laboratory setting, and freezing the resulting embryos. The process occurs over two to six weeks, so is best for women who can safely delay cancer therapy for that amount of time. The embryos are implanted after cancer treatment and recovery.
- Egg Banking: The process to bank eggs is similar to embryo banking in that it involves the same ovarian stimulation to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and then frozen without being fertilized; they are fertilized at a later date and the resulting embryos are implanted after cancer treatment and recovery.
- Ovarian Tissue Banking: This is an option for women who cannot safely delay cancer treatment long enough to undergo embryo or egg banking. Laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure, is used to remove one ovary. The cortex, or outer surface, contains the eggs; it is removed and frozen in strips for later use. Women who have had certain types of cancer can then have the tissue thawed and transplanted back.
Post-Cancer Fertility Preservation Options
If possible, it’s best to consult with a reproductive endocrinologist prior to undergoing cancer therapy. However, for some women, that’s not possible. The good news is that there are options to grow your family after you’ve completed treatment for cancer. It does not appear that pregnancy after cancer increases the risks of cancer recurrence, nor do children born to cancer survivors appear to be at higher risk of birth defects. Researchers continue to gather more data, but the information available to date is reassuring.
After cancer treatment, traditional assisted reproductive technologies including controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), and IVF may be a viable way for some cancer patients to become pregnant.
Egg donation is an excellent choice for women whose cancer therapy caused them to become menopausal. A known or anonymous egg donor would undergo ovarian stimulation. Her eggs would be fertilized by sperm, and the resulting embryos would be implanted in the cancer survivor.
Some cancer survivors who are unable to carry a pregnancy turn to gestational surrogacy. The patient would undergo IVF, and the embryos from the intended parents (the patient and her partner) would be implanted into the gestational surrogate.
More than ever, patients who undergo fertility-threatening cancer treatments are surviving their disease and looking forward to the future. Building a family is often a very important part of that future. If you’re a cancer patient and would like more information on the fertility-preserving options available to you, call (954) 247-6200 to schedule an appointment today. At IVF Florida, we recognize that time is often of the essence and are committed to making every effort to see you as soon as possible.
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IVF FLORIDA at 27 Oct 2021
IVF FLORIDA is offering simple lifestyle modifications you can make to help you reach your optimal health so you can prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
Exercise: One way to prepare your body for conception is through exercise. Moving your body for 30-minutes a day is a great way to prepare for pregnancy. However, don’t overdo it, as excessive exercise can be harmful. Discuss your activity levels with your physician to see if you need to make any adjustments to your activities.
Eat well: A balanced diet is another way to get on the path to a healthier lifestyle. Treat food as fuel and reach for fruits and veggies instead of chips and candy. Meeting with a nutritionist can also help you plan balanced, nutritious meals.
Quit smoking: Smoking has been shown to decrease a woman’s egg count and quality, as well as negatively impacting sperm quality in men. If you are planning to conceive, it would be best to quit now.
Reduce stress: Reducing stress is helpful while trying to conceive. Whether it’s sharing your experiences with others, trying acupuncture, or taking a yoga class, finding a way to reduce stress will increase your likelihood of continuing your course of treatment and promote a healthy pregnancy.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with an IVF FLORIDA fertility expert, call 954-247-6200 or visit https://ivfflorida.com/request-an-appointment/.
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IVF FLORIDA at 8 Oct 2021
Infertility comes with many obstacles, and for patients with limited or no infertility benefits, figuring out how to pay for treatment can present added hurdles. It is important to know that individuals and couples seeking fertility care have options, and we’re here to provide tips and resources, so you can make informed decisions -- without the stress.
1 - Evaluate Your Insurance Coverage
Navigating your insurance coverage can be a daunting task, but if there was ever a time to go over your coverage with a fine-tooth comb, it’s now. Before you start treatment, review your insurance benefits to see if your plan includes diagnostic testing, consultations, or prescription coverage. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask! Call your insurance provider for assistance to see what is and isn’t covered.
If your employer doesn’t offer insurance coverage, check out RESOLVE’s Coverage at Work Initiative brought to you by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and EMD Serono. This toolkit provides tips and resources to help begin the process for better pro-family benefits for you and your entire organization.
2- Consider Multiple Cycle Plans
Patients going through In Vitro Fertilization sometimes need more than one cycle to achieve a pregnancy. To help patients looking to minimize their costs while increasing their chances of bringing home a baby, IVF FLORIDA offers multi-cycle discount programs through our Fertility Access programs. This will give patients a reduced, set cost for two or more cycles of treatment.
3 - Research Fertility Loans
The cost of fertility treatment can be very high, and for some paying out of pocket just isn’t possible. To help cover some or all of the cost of treatment and medication, several companies specialize in medical loans for fertility treatment. These specialized loans offer lower interest rates than traditional loans and credit cards. A good credit score is still a must, and there is an approval process that is typically quick if you have a high credit score. To learn more about available loans and lending partners, visit IVF FLORIDA’s Financing Programs Page.
Whether you decide to pay for your fertility treatment through your insurance plan, the discount programs, financing, or a mix of all of the above, the fertility specialists at IVF Florida have a team of financial counselors available to help with questions. If you are struggling with infertility and would like additional information on our programs, contact us at 954-247-6200.
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Administrator at 30 Sep 2021