If you are diagnosed with unexplained infertility, fertility specialists help identify the underlying issue. Through a collaborative effort with you, specialists perform tests to identify the root cause of infertility. In cases where they suspect the issue to be silent endometriosis, professionals undertake further specialized tests. Here are a few steps to follow when you experience infertility:
Assess Uterine Health
If routine tests show regular ovulation, adequate sperm quality and quantity, and open fallopian tubes, the cause of infertility may not be immediately apparent. This results in an unexplained infertility diagnosis. After ruling out other causes, specialists evaluate for undiagnosed factors.
Assessing your endometrial health helps fertility specialists evaluate the severity of your condition and the receptivity of your uterine lining. Because inflammation arising from silent endometriosis makes the uterus unreceptive to pregnancy, specialists conduct tests to assess uterine health. In cases where high-quality embryos repeatedly fail to implant during IVF treatment, these uterine health tests help inform future treatments.
Test for Silent Endometriosis
In silent endometriosis, endometrial-like tissue forms outside the uterus without causing classic symptoms such as painful periods, pelvic pain, or severe cramps. Even without noticeable symptoms, inflammation arising from silent endometriosis could harm reproductive potential by making the endometrial lining unreceptive to a viable embryo. This leads to issues such as:
- Recurrent pregnancy loss
- Infertility
- Failed IVF implantation
Because many traditional testing methods do not identify the condition, particularly in its early stages, specialized tests help assess uterine health. Fertility specialists use specialized tools, such as biomarker tests, to identify underlying causes of unexplained infertility. With modern options such as BCL6 protein tests offered in office-based settings, specialists assess for silent endometriosis. These tests focus on identifying uterine inflammation and hormone shifts linked to underlying issues. If the test produces a positive result, fertility specialists are able to refer the patient to a doctor for treatment to help increase their chances of pregnancy.
Treat Silent Endometriosis
Following a positive test result, a doctor recommends further diagnostic tests, such as a pelvic examination, laparoscopy, ultrasound, or MRI. When the diagnosis confirms the presence of endometrial-like tissue, the doctor recommends an appropriate treatment based on the severity of your condition. The treatments focus on shrinking tissue growth, relieving discomfort, and addressing fertility goals.
For discomfort, fertility doctors offer various medication options. If a specialist recommends surgery, they remove abnormal growth and scar tissue while preserving fertility. This helps improve the chances of normal fertilization and implantation. Fertility doctors also recommend hormonal therapy options to support conception. Depending on the severity of the condition, some professionals recommend lifestyle modifications, regular exercise, and a nutritious diet. These non-invasive approaches serve as initial measures before exploring clinical options. They also complement other treatments.
Seek Reproductive Technologies
Fertility specialists are well-versed in addressing unexplained infertility through assisted reproductive technologies. With these approaches, specialists handle sperm, eggs, or embryos outside the body to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. In in vitro fertilization (IVF), specialists fertilize eggs outside the body and transfer embryos into the uterus to facilitate implantation. This bypasses natural conception, in which an egg travels down the fallopian tube, where fertilization typically occurs.
With IVF, specialists bypass certain potential barriers to conception, including undiagnosed issues that interfere with natural fertilization. This helps address problems related to fertilization failure, egg-sperm interaction, or movement through the fallopian tubes. Specialists also assess embryo quality before transfer.
By assessing embryo quality, specialists select the most viable embryos for transfer, improving the chances of successful implantation. The intrauterine insemination (IUI) approach involves selecting high-quality sperm and placing it directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation to facilitate fertilization. These procedures help some women conceive after endometriosis treatment.
Manage Unexplained Infertility With Professional Help
With the help of specialized diagnostic tools, fertility specialists identify hidden uterine issues affecting your chances of pregnancy. Specialists also evaluate factors such as egg or sperm quality and underlying conditions; these conditions include endometriosis, thyroid disorders, or polycystic ovary syndrome when evaluating infertility. By investigating potential contributing factors, diagnostic tests provide doctors with information to guide further evaluation. They then develop treatment plans tailored to each person’s individual needs. Partner with a professional fertility specialist to address the underlying causes of infertility.
