By Dr. Victoria Verdú (Licensed Gynaecologist No. 282847366).
Unexplained infertility or infertility of unknown origin occurs when, after performing basic initial tests, fertility specialists find no apparent cause for the failure of embryo implantation and pregnancy.
Infertility of unknown origin affects 15% of couples who visit an assisted reproduction center.
These two terms are often confused, although in reality they are two different things. When we talk about sterility, we refer to the absolute inability to conceive, while infertility is the difficulty in achieving a pregnancy or carrying it to term.
It is important to clearly distinguish these two terms, as the former can be a more serious problem than the latter.
When a couple fails to conceive a child after a year of unprotected sex, and all fertility tests performed yield normal results, it could be said that there is no detectable cause to diagnose infertility. From that point on, fertility specialists will perform a series of tests to try to determine the cause and thus attempt to achieve pregnancy.

Among the most common causes of unexplained infertility are the following:
Lack of ovulation or irregularity is one of the main causes of infertility in women. The gynecologist may check the patient's cycles through an ultrasound, as well as hormone levels, to try to correct the ovulation disorder.
For sperm to fertilize the egg, the fallopian tubes must be patent, meaning they must allow a clear passage for both gametes to meet. Cysts, endometriosis, or a problem with the uterine lining can be an obstacle to achieving pregnancy. The uterus must be prepared to receive the embryo.
It is estimated that 40% of infertility cases are due to the male factor. Through a series of tests, we can refine the diagnosis and detect whether the infertility is caused by the male factor.
Thanks to advances in reproductive medicine, unexplained infertility is finding more answers every day. Many cases of infertility are better diagnosed, and implantation success is achieved.
Detection of unexplained infertility is carried out when patients fail to achieve pregnancy after one year of trying naturally. In this case, we must verify the proper functioning of the reproductive organs of both the man, in the case of treatments with the partner's semen, and the woman. When the assisted reproduction treatment is the ROPA method, both patients will be studied.
In women, the diagnostic process begins with a complete medical history and physical examination. This is followed by a blood hormone test within 3-5 days, including an assessment of the anti-Müllerian hormone.

Hysterosalpinography is used to check the condition of the fallopian tubes, while transvaginal ultrasound evaluates the uterus, ovaries, and several antral follicles. An assessment of ovulation function is also performed.
For men, the procedure involves a detailed medical history and physical examination. Sperm analysis, or semen analysis, is essential and is complemented by hormonal testing. In addition, in some cases, more specific tests such as laparoscopy, karyotyping to rule out genetic changes, pelvic MRI, hysteroscopy, and immunological studies can be used.
If the results of these tests are normal and no infertility has been identified, a diagnosis of unexplained infertility can be made. However, this does not mean that there is no cause for the infertility, but it was not possible to identify it with the usual available evidence.
Advances now make it possible for embryology laboratories to detect numerical chromosomal abnormalities in embryos (aneuploidies) before transfer. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) identifies, through a biopsy of what will become the embryo's placenta and without interfering with its return, which embryos are truly likely to produce a genetically healthy baby.
Thanks to advances in Reproductive Medicine, unexplained infertility is finding more and more answers every day. Many cases of infertility are better diagnosed and implantation can be achieved. For fertility treatment to work, the best embryo and an optimal endometrium are needed for implantation.
At IVF-Life, we specialize in complex cases and unexplained infertility. We treat patients who come to our clinics with an average of 4.5 failed cycles performed at other centers.