Unexplained Infertility
Infertility is a unique medical condition affecting couples who are unable to conceive after 12 months of regular timed intercourse without the use of birth control method in women less than 35 years of age, and after 6 months of regular timed intercourse without the use of birth control method in women 35 years and older. The frequency of primary infertility by age groups was: 7.3 – 9.1% (from 15 to 34 years), 25% (from 35 to 39 years) and 30% (40 to 44 years).
Reasons for infertility include abnormal semen analysis (male infertility), ovulation problems (poor egg quality, polycystic ovarian syndrome or premature ovarian failure), fallopian tube problems, abnormal uterine cavity, and endometriosis. In 10-30% of couples seeking evaluation for infertility, no identifiable cause could be found.
Treatment options include surgery (removal of endometriosis or scar tissue within the uterus or the pelvis), ovarian stimulation (clomiphene citrate, letrozole or gonadotropin), Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or In vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite these treatment options, there is a significantly high number of couples could not get pregnant and have a live birth.
What Reproductive Immunology can offer to women with unexplained infertility and multiple IVF failures?
Reproductive immunology is the field of science studying the role of immune system in reproduction, it’s rapidly evolving and provides new insights into the treatment of reproductive failures such as unexplained infertility and multiple IVF failures. Some infertile women have abnormalities in their immune system leading ovulations or fertilization problems, they can also have problems within the uterine lining that prevent pregnancy implantation.
Immune testing can be helpful to identify those infertile women with an overactive immune system. Immune therapy to modulate (Fine-tune) the immune system can be offered as indicated, including prednisone, Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG), Plaquenil or Tacrolimus. Treatment protocol will be individualized for each patient. An immune protocol will be coordinated with an IVF specialist if needed.