All Analysis Are Good but Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant?
These days, not only medication, but also technology is used to help women reproduce. However, it would be good to understand the factors involved in why reproduction also poses a challenge to women. A lot of women try and often fail when trying to get pregnant when they find a partner or even when trying to have a child on their own. Unfortunately, even when these women try multiple ways to successfully get pregnant, those methods might end up failing. This is when people must start looking at the factors why they cannot get pregnant rather than simply trying methods to get pregnant. So what to do if all analysis are good but you are still not getting pregnant?
Basic analysis for infertility
Doctors recommend going for infertility evaluation after trying for 1 year to have a baby without birth control. To evaluate infertility you need to go to obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) who usually does the first assessment. You may also see reproductive endocrinologist who specializes in infertility for further check up. The doctor will demand from you blood and urine for laboratory analysis and will examine your reproductive organs. So, the basic infertility tests will include the following:
1. Urine test for ovulation examine.
2. Blood test to check hormone level.
3. Thyroid function.
4. Ovarian reserve.
5. Semen analysis for men.
6. Ultrasound diagnostics.
7. Hysterosalpingography.
Your doctor may also require other additional tests based on the results of the previous analysis and procedures. Analysis results will show what the problem is and why you are not getting pregnant. After proper treatment very soon a woman can get pregnant and even further she won’t face problems with reproduction.
Unfortunately, not always basic analysis can be helpful to solve the infertility problem. Sometimes couples have only good test results and no serious illnesses or injuries, but still can’t get pregnant. So, well, why some people can’t have a baby even all the results are good?
Reasons for not getting pregnant
1. Blocked fallopian tubes
Blocked fallopian tubes are one of the reasons for not getting pregnant as these are a common reason of infertility. The fallopian tube is where the egg cell is fertilized by the sperm before moving to the uterus through the fallopian tube. A blocked fallopian tube will be the obstacle stopping the sperm cell from reaching and fertilizing the egg cell, ultimately preventing any chances of getting pregnant.
Common reasons of the fallopian tubes being blocked include infections, scar tissues, and pelvic adhesions. Many women never discover they have blocked fallopian tubes until they try to have a child as the blockage rarely has symptoms other than mild or regular pain on the side of the abdomen. This pain is caused by a type of blockage called hydrosalpinx where fluid fills up and enlarges a blocked fallopian tube. Blocked fallopian tubes are often caused by endometriosis. It is a painful disorder where tissue similar to the tissue lining inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus causing painful and heavy periods and pelvic pain.
2. Woman’s age
The age of a woman is a great factor when it comes to getting pregnant and overall fertility of a woman. The age in which a woman becomes infertile is not a specific number. The average age when a woman’s pregnancy rate starts to decline is from the age of 30. The rate of possible pregnancy begins to decline rapidly as the woman arrives at the age of mid-30s. By the age of 45, the possibility of getting pregnant is too low that it is almost impossible for a woman to get pregnant. It is common situation among majority women, but not all. There are many cases where a woman could give birth after 50.
3. Abnormal sperm
Parallel with the female infertility doctors also recommend evaluating the male infertility. In 1/3 cases female patients have health problems, in 1/3 cases males are responsible. Also, in 1/3 cases both men and women end up having health problems. Therefore, it is not right to put blame only on woman for not having a child. Male infertility is a quite common problem too. Testing for men mainly includes complete analysis of semen. The results help to find out the amount of sperm, their shape and how they move. Moreover, the doctor may ask for blood test to measure hormone level, testicular biopsy and ultrasound diagnostics of the scrotum.
The most common cause of male infertility is varicoceles. Which means there are varicose veins in the scrotum that may lead to low sperm count or poor sperm movement. Here are potential causes of male infertility that can be diagnosed after semen analysis:
- Low sperm amount
- Poor sperm motility
- Abnormal sperm shape
- Not moving or dead sperm
- Absence of sperm in the ejaculate
- Retrograde ejaculation, when semen goes into the bladder instead of going out
- No ejaculation and no semen
- Erectile dysfunction
4. Unexplained infertility
In medicine there is a terminology “unexplained infertility”. This diagnosis sounds scary, but that doesn’t mean that you have no options. Actually, one in four couples who have fertility problems doctors conclude that there is no explanation for why they can’t conceive. But, there is no need for panic. Many couples were able to have a child after usual fertility treatments. A study in 2012 observed 1300 women with unexplained infertility diagnosis. This study shows that 43% of observed women eventually gave birth to a child even without fertility treatment.
Therefore, to be truly diagnosed with unexplained fertility couples need to go through complete and detailed fertility evaluation. You can consider the diagnosis as accurate if:
- Woman has regular ovulation and menstruation
- Ovarian reserves are good
- Fallopian tubes are healthy and not blocked
- Man’s semen analysis is good
- Both partners are under 40 and healthy
- No smoking and drinking habits
- No obesity
Some couples never find out why they cannot get pregnant. Most of the doctors who handle these cases speculate that these couples have not received good diagnosis. Doctors say that there is no such thing as “unexplained infertility” but only undiscovered or undiagnosed problems on either the woman or the man. The problem still remains that couples are left undiagnosed. But this does not mean that either side of the couple cannot be treated. You can and should receive treatment for your infertility even when the diagnosis is unexplained.
Remember to regularly get checked by your doctor to be informed about your health and to be aware of any underlying health issues before any conditions worsen. If your doctor does inform you of any possible reasons why you are not able to get pregnant, immediately seek treatment for any conditions.
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