| Approximately 10% of all infertility cases are | | | | unexplained infertility could in fact be a thyroid |
| unexplained. Simply put, this means that there is | | | | problem that is easily treated with proper |
| no known physical or medical reason that | | | | medication. Be reasonable, but be firm. If your |
| conception has not happened. One of the possible | | | | doctor is unwilling to read this report, it may be |
| reasons for unexplained infertility could be that | | | | time to find a new doctor that is more willing to |
| your doctor has not performed all possible tests | | | | work with you and to listen to your concerns. |
| to discover the reason for the problem. Another | | | | What happens if every test possible has not |
| possibility is that the problem is emotional and not | | | | resulted in a reason for your infertility? Could it be |
| physical or medical. | | | | an emotional problem? Stress, excessive stress |
| So, how do you know if your doctor has ordered | | | | that is, can affect your fertility, and receiving a |
| the correct tests, at the correct times, and read | | | | diagnosis of unexplained infertility is going to cause |
| the results of the tests correctly as well? Educate | | | | additional stress. Depression can be another |
| yourself. When it comes to scheduling tests, | | | | emotional result of receiving a diagnosis of |
| timing really is everything. Each test must be | | | | unexplained infertility. Yet another emotional |
| performed at different times during your cycle, | | | | barrier that many women experience when they |
| and if the "window" is missed, even by one day, | | | | have not conceived is that they feel that they |
| the results of the test will be incorrect. | | | | don't deserve to be a parent. Seeing infertility, |
| One thing that I have noticed and learned is that | | | | whether it is explained or not, as a punishment |
| many doctors don't realize how important a | | | | for some wrongdoing could be the emotional |
| correctly functioning thyroid is to a woman's | | | | barrier that is preventing conception in the first |
| fertility. For the best chance to conceive, TSH | | | | place. |
| (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels should be | | | | There are several things that can be done to help |
| between 1.0 and 2.0 mIU/L. Many, if not most, | | | | resolve emotional barriers to conception. Hypnosis, |
| doctors and laboratories still consider a normal | | | | couple therapy, meditation, and support groups |
| range between 0.5 and 5.0 mIU/L even though | | | | can all help. I personally do not recommend |
| the AACE (American Association of Clinical | | | | individual therapy unless it includes scheduled |
| Endocrinologists) have changed the accepted | | | | couple therapy as well. By recognizing and dealing |
| levels of TSH to between 0.3 and 3.04 mIU/L. If | | | | with emotional barriers, many of which will be |
| your doctor or lab is not following this new | | | | hidden away in your subconscious mind, you may |
| guideline, it is up to you to educate yourself and | | | | find your road to conception straighter and |
| your doctor. | | | | shorter. |
| You can find a copy of the AACE press release | | | | Our minds are very powerful, and whether we |
| with the new levels at Print out this page, and | | | | decide consciously or subconsciously that we |
| highlight the entire third paragraph. Now, read | | | | "cannot" be parents, should not be parents, or |
| through the page and highlight each and every | | | | even if we are questioning our partner's ability to |
| sentence that contains the word infertility. Take | | | | be a good parent, that emotional barrier could be |
| this page to your doctor, and express your | | | | only thing between you and a successful |
| concerns about the possibility that your | | | | pregnancy. |