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Main article: Unexplained Infertility Overview
Updated: 3-April-2024
Causes of Unexplained Infertility
A diagnosis of unexplained infertility does not necessarily imply there is no known cause. Instead, unexplained infertility simply means the cause was not identified during standard fertility investigations.
Contrary to popular belief, defective oocytes or sperm are not a common cause of unexplained infertility.
Source: Katsoff B, et al. (2013)
Instead known causes of unexplained infertility are:
- Stress
- Oxidative stress
- Thyroid
- BPA
- Electromagnetic fields
- Fibroids
- Tubal peristalsis
- Endometrial polyps
- Endometrial receptivity
- Inflammation
- Inflammatory disorders
- Follicular fluid
- Microbiota
- Iodine
- Hyperhomocysteinemia
- Ovarian reserve
- Dysmorphic uterus
- Genetics
- Anti-sperm antibodies
- Poor quality sperm
Stress
Stress is a known cause of infertility. However, each woman responds to stress differently (i.e. high stress resilient, medium stress resilient, stress sensitive). Alam et al. reported women with unexplained infertility have significantly higher levels of cortisol and lower levels of sirtuin 1 (i.e. chronic stress causing oxidative stress).
Source: Wu J, et al. (2021); Alam F, et al. (2020); Bethea C L, et al. (2008)
