A new guideline for health professionals treating people affected by unexplained infertility aims to enable them to better inform patients and increase the chances of pregnancy. Led by experts at the University of Adelaide, UNSW Sydney and Monash University, the evidence-based Australian Guideline has been published in the Medical Journal of Australia alongside the launch of consumer resources including a new Monash Ask Fertility app . Up to 30% of infertile heterosexual couples are affected by "unexplained" infertility , which cannot be assigned a direct cause.
The diagnosis is made when no abnormalities of the female or male reproductive systems are clearly identified, mostly by excluding possible causes such as the absence of ovulation or low sperm count. The Center for Research Excellence in Women's Health in Reproductive Life (CRE WHiRL), which is administered by Monash University, partnered with the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in developing the international Guidelines, then engaged Australian experts and consumers to adapt these for use in Australia. The adapted Guideline is approved by NHMRC and endorsed by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RANZCOG) and the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).
The Australian Evidence-based Guideline for unexplained infertility advances our understanding of infertility prognosis and treatment and has new evidence-based recommendations so.