If you’ve tried to get pregnant for a year or more and your doctor has found no obvious problem, such as blocked fallopian tubes, you may have what doctors call ‘unexplained infertility’. This does not mean you won’t conceive. Research tracking thousands of people in this situation has found that many go on to have healthy babies naturally or with the help of fertility treatment.
So, how long should you wait before starting fertility treatment? The answer depends on a range of factors that might increase or decrease your chance of naturally conceiving and your personal preferences for seeking treatment or not.
Unexplained Infertility
The Unexplained Infertility Tool can help you explore your options and consider next steps. It is based on studies of thousands of people who have experienced ‘unexplained infertility’, so the results it produces are based on averages from the data. This means it does not replace personalised medical advice. It is intended to help you consider your options for further discussion with your GP or fertility specialist.
This tool is designed for heterosexual couples, where:
- the woman has regular menstrual cycles, has at least one open fallopian tube and is between 20 and 42 years old
- the man has had a sperm test.