Brian and Karen first heard the term unexplained infertility nine months into their marriage. It was the last thing they considered and after almost a year of tests and scans, they started to wonder whether Karen was actually infertile.

Brian and Karen desperately wanted children. In fact, they began trying three months before their wedding day to conceive and wanted to start married life with somewhat of a headstart. But conception never came...that was five years ago and they are still childless. A classic scenario for unexplained infertility but the good news here is they haven't given up.

What Is Unexplained Infertility?

The frustrating part for most couples with this condition is the term itself. You see, unexplained means exactly that; no reason can be found yet everything seems to be working perfectly:

- Karen was ovulating normally - She doesn't have endometriosis, a disease which can wreak havoc on a woman's menstrual cycle. - Her PCT(Post-Coital Test) returned positive results and Brian's sperm count was high.

Everything appeared to be normal but still no baby. Bad news is after the first twelve months, their fertility issues basically were unexplainable. That is hard to take for any couple yet the chances of getting pregnant following this initial period diminish every year. Strong willied and positive, Brian and Karen continue to believe it will turn around. They are now strongly considering adoption.

Treatment Options

Almost one in three couples will conceive within three years of the initial diagnosis with a range of treatment methods. The obvious treatment is the use of fertility drugs while a method known as IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) or artificial insemination is an option high on the list of "must tries." More radical but in many cases, effective methods such as IVF will enter the equation at some stage.

Other Treatment Options

Once more traditional methods have been exhausted couples will then turn to other possibilities such as herbal treatments and acupuncture. If you are in this situation at least discuss this option with your doctor.

There's a theory unexplained infertility is about your body being out of alignment and it's need to be brought back into balance. The suggestion is the difference between being fertile and infertile when the unexplained tag is labelled on a couple is perhaps, just minor detail.

Infertility Forums

Brian and Karen recently discovered the benefits of forums for those couples with fertility issues. It's certainly an option worth considering, not just for the support factor but to listen to other couples in similar situations who may have found a breakthrough.

Quite often, a couple may have tried a treatment option you may not have heard about and it could be worth investigating. Remember to always run it by your doctor before trying anything new for safety reasons.