Unexplained infertility: does it really exist? Does it matter?

Charalambos Siristatidis, Charalampos Siristatidis, Siristatidis C, Siladitya Bhattacharya
Human Reproduction · 2007 · vol. 22(8) , pp. 2084–2087 · doi:10.1093/humrep/dem117 · PMID:17562677 · W2100381325
article OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 14 in-corpus citations
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Although scientifically unsatisfying, unexplained infertility is a sustainable clinical diagnosis because further investigations are unlikely to change current management strategies for these couples.

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Abstract

Unexplained infertility (UI) refers to a diagnosis made in couples in whom standard investigations including semen analysis, tests of ovulation and tubal patency are normal. It has been suggested that the term UI is unsustainable, as conditions such as endometriosis, tubal infertility, premature ovarian ageing and immunological infertility tend to be misdiagnosed as UI. In this debate, we present the view that, although scientifically unsatisfying, the diagnosis of UI is sustainable from a clinical and practical perspective. Given our present treatment options, further investigations leading to a more 'accurate' diagnosis is unlikely to change our management in these cases. Scientific curiosity must take second place to a more pragmatic approach, which takes into account the clinical and financial costs of making a more 'accurate' diagnosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Infertility Endometriosis Endometriosis Fallopian Tube Diseases Fallopian Tube Diseases Female Humans Infertility Infertility Infertility Male Maternal Age Pregnancy

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