Premium
'Unexplained infertility’results of secondary investigations in 95 couples
Author(s) -
HAXTON M. J.,
FLEMING R.,
HAMILTON M. P. R.,
YATES R. W.,
BLACK W. P.,
COUTTS J. R. T.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1987.tb03147.x
Subject(s) - luteal phase , unexplained infertility , infertility , mucus , andrology , oligospermia , sperm , semen , endocrine system , medicine , menstrual cycle , gynecology , physiology , endocrinology , hormone , biology , male infertility , pregnancy , ecology , genetics
Summary Abnormalities of in‐vitro sperm‐mucus penetration, ovarian hormone deficiency, specifically poor progesterone surge, and luteal cyst formation were assessed prospectively in 95 couples with fully investigated primary infertility of 3·3 years duration. Abnormal spermmucus penetration was found in 22, half of whom could have been identified on semen assessment alone. Ten other males had recurrent oligospernia but with normal motility and mucus penetration. Twentyone patients had a poor progesterone surge and seven of them demonstrated retained luteal phase cysts. Endocrine and mucus penetration abnormalities did not coincide, demonstrating that they are distinct and unrelated phenomena. A significant number of couples were found for whom the term‘unexplained infertility’was no longer applicable and appropriate management could be considered.