Unexplained

[sammejayne]

What tests have people has on nhs?

I am unexplained and just fed up there has to be a reason x

[LKT1]

I had standard blood tests to check hornmones on day 3 and day 21of cycleTo check for ovulation. I also had additional blood tests and a transvaginal scan. I had no issues found and they detected that my partner had no sperm count. Sorry i can’t be of more help. Assume they have looked at your partner or donor?x

[sammejayne in reply to LKT1]

Yeh my partners fine too he has a ten year old daughter already too. It’s so frustrating x

[LKT1 in reply to sammejayne]

That’s is frustrating. Have you had the scan to check the shape of the womb and if all looks ok internally? Although it was upsetting finding out my OH had an issue, it was worse when we didn’t know what the cause was, so I know how you feel. The only, and probably unhelpful advice I can give is use a good app to keep track of your cycle length and ovulation dates, take all the recommended vitamins and avoid alcohol/caffeine etc. It’s so hard! All the best with your journey and I hope you find answers soon! XX

[Klndmr]

I had all the hormones checked, an hsg scan, hiv and chlamydia tests, baseline scan, smear test... Hubby had semen analysis only and once i was referred to thr clinic for ivf i had another baseline scan and ovarian reserve checked. Xx

[Refocus]

Hi sammejayne, sorry to hear this. I can't remember what I had! Endless blood tests, intravaginal scan, follicle count, semen analysis for my husband. ... Mine was unexplained until I did my first round of ivf. Hopefully you'll be fine when and if you get to ivf but they get up close and personal with your eggs, so could find out more. Best of luck x

[sammejayne in reply to Refocus]

Thank you, yeh we been ttc 3 years and I tried for 2 years with my first partner so it’s just been such a long time. My family say to carry on trying naturally as it may happen but I’m 30 next year I just wanto do something which will give me the best possible result x

[Refocus in reply to sammejayne]

I would suggest applying for NHS funding for ivf to see if you can find out more through that process. Or maybe try iui? Which is less medication.

[sammejayne in reply to Refocus]

unfortunately we are not entitled to ivf on nhs as my fiancé has a ten year old daughter... I thought about IUI, but heard its not very effective..?

[Kempton in reply to Refocus]

Just wanted to ask what they found when you went through ivf? Mine was unexplained too but we finally got pregnant after ivf... hoping having more children is a possibility for us.

[Refocus in reply to Kempton]

Mine still isn't "explained" but after two failed icsi with nil fertilisation, we're doing further tests on the sperm and get the results on the 21st Jan. Apparently my eggs looked 'beautiful' but there's no further tests they can do on the eggs at this stage. Congratulations on your pregnancy x

[Hidden]

I had all the basic hormone tests, HSG,sperm analysis. All came back completely normal & we couldn’t get IVF via NHS either.

It was unexplained until I had a laparoscopy in June 2017- I was diagnosed with endometriosis. It took us 5 years & 10 months of trying to conceive to get the reason for our infertility. We conceived naturally afterwards but miscarried. I had another 2 laparoscopys after the miscarriage ( it was so bad I needed an endo surgeon) & I’m now over 13 weeks pregnant ( conceived naturally) after TTC 7 years.

I had lots of symptoms to indicate endometriosis & can’t believe it took so long. Not every woman will have symptoms with it.

Endometriosis will not show via ultrasound only via laparoscopy. I would push for a laparoscopy- lots of unexplained is normally endometriosis.

I’ve had 3 laparoscopys & they’re nothing to worry about. xoxo

[sammejayne in reply to Hidden]

I’ve tried to push for laparoscopy but they say there no reason to have one, don’t know what more I can do c

[Sfarre in reply to sammejayne]

Similar thing happened to me - I had years of infertility with very painful periods but the doctors didn't think I had endo as my ultrasound was 'clean'. I ended up doing this diary for a couple of months and taking it to the doctor: endometriosis-uk.org/sites/... The NHS still wouldn't help, so I went privately for a laparoscopy where they found and removed 'extensive' endo. 6 months later, my first IVF attempt has worked. I cannot categorically say whether the lap helped us be successful or not, it certainly didn't help my period pains.

Would stress to you though that a laparoscopy is no walk in the park - its surgery, takes weeks to recover (and months to feel completely normal again) and therefore I would only recommend you push for it if you are having other endo symptoms / strongly feel that is what it is. Hope this helps, best of luck to you xx

[Kempton in reply to sammejayne]

I agree with Sfarre about the laparoscopy. I didn't have any issues but they wouldn't fund ivf until they'd ruled out endo and I have to say the surgery and recovery was a horrible experience. I still have scars. I finally had a baby and I guess I see these scars as part of my journey to have him, but it's definitely not a walk in the park.

[Hidden]

Hi, I had all the tests everyone mentioned above and also an HSG dye test to check my fallopian tubes weren't blocked.. unfortunately I have still not had any reason given why I can't conceive - every single test came back normal x

[Arya10]

Hey, I had similar tests to what’s been mentioned above, all fine. we are still unexplained too (waiting on IVF). However I’ve found acupuncture has given me more answers - I’m pretty sure it’s a hormonal imbalance plus stress on my body (from a couple of difficult experiences in my past) that’s caused general sluggishness that’s causing our infertility. All of which haven’t showed up on any western medicine tests. If western medicine isn’t finding an answer for you, I’d say try eastern. x

[sammejayne in reply to Arya10]

How can they tell through acupuncture xx

[Arya10 in reply to sammejayne]

I’m no expert, there’s lots to it I don’t understand, but various things like through your pulse (did you know we have 7 different kinds), your tongue, blood flow, other symptoms through extensive questioning. They look at your whole body multi-systematically. For example, she was able to tell me my liver was sluggish and needed some help through how my pulse felt plus my answers to some questions about my general health.

[Arya10 in reply to sammejayne]

I should add - I’ve had 3 months of acupuncture fortnightly, and my cycle has gone from anywhere between 26-34 days to 27 days exactly all 3 months. I now get very clear follicular and luteal phases where I wasn’t really sure before/couldn’t feel the difference. My skin (eczema) is much better, my mental clarity is better, my chronic pain is better. My periods also went from very light to much fuller.

[Hidden]

I too am completely unexplained and have done loads of tests. The only thing they found was lack of eggs and age. But that doesn't excuse the years of no contraception beforehand. Anyway, I switched to donor eggs, then after a close shave (empty sacs in April therefore managed miscarriage), I also started taking baby aspirin. I am now 8+3. The other big thing I did was really really cut out stress from my life and had counselling and body counselling.

It's so frustrating when there is no answer and we start to feel like we know mode about it all than the people we are speaking with. Keep going, you will get there. Xx

[Gemz29]

Hi, I totally understand your frustration. After having dye tests, scans, bloods I was left with “unexplained” I was given ivf however did not respond very well as everything went to sleep.... I was gutted as on paper I was unexplained however ivf I responded poorly too. After using the 1 nhs cycle I was entitled to, Id responded poorly I was then advised to pay for a amh blood test, from this I discovered I had low ovarian reserve. I’m now taking supplements to support this and a new consultant put my on clomid to give me body a helping push... as I ovulate every month on my own. I have my first positive two lines last month, however unfortunately after 4 days it was completely firmed I miscarried.... my advise would be to pay for the blood test as this is one test the nhs don’t pay for but the one tests I got answers from xx

[sammejayne in reply to Gemz29]

Hiya I’ve already have any test and all is goood literally can’t find any reason why it isn’t happening x

[Gemz29 in reply to sammejayne]

The only other thing that I had high was my fsh blood test, should be under 10 however mines 12. Have you been offered clomid or anything like that? Xx

[sammejayne in reply to Gemz29]

Yeh have been on clonid it just makes me terribly bloated and sensitive xx

[Kempton]

I had the bloods, a hycosy and a laparoscopy. Hubby had semen analysis.

It was unexplained but they did note I had a low ovarian reserve for my age... though I'm not sure if that's considered an explanation for infertility? Really hope not as I hope to have more children (we conceived through ivf that was nhs funded).