Unexplained Infertility – Beyond the Medical Model

In spite of the fact that each of us comes from a very long line of successful pregnancies, many couples today are finding it difficult to conceive or enjoy a pregnancy until the safe birth or their baby. Indeed, according to Hart (2003) in the British Medical Journal, up to 25% of patients who present for investigation in a reproductive medicine clinic are diagnosed with unexplained fertility. He explains that unexplained infertility is a diagnosis of exclusion. When no other reason for not being able to become pregnant or stay pregnant can be found, unexplained infertility is the diagnosis one receives. Webster’s dictionary defines ‘Unexplained’ as (1) not explained or (2) having the reason or cause not made clear. So, a diagnosis of unexplained infertility just means that the ‘why’ you are not getting pregnant or staying pregnant is not clear. Not clear, that is, to the people you are asking (in this instance doctors). Not clear within the framework they are using. Not clear through the lens of the medical model. The medical model is an approach to pathology that aims to find medical treatments for diagnosed symptoms and syndromes. The medical model emphasises anatomical, physiological and biochemical malfunction as the causes of ill health.Why Is Unexplained Infertility Unexplained?The medical model, while very useful, is just not adequate for understanding what is really happening for couples who are experiencing challenges having a baby in the absence of any obvious physical, anatomical or biochemical cause. The truth is that the reason why unexplained infertility is unexplained is because the causes lie beyond the scope of the medical model. Instead of saying ´we don’t know or understand why you are not conceiving or keeping your baby until full term´, men and women trying to get pregnant and stay pregnant are handed this diagnosis. Could there be a cause or explanation that standard or even specialized medical or surgical procedures and tests are just not able to detect? Of course. Is there another way to explain unexplained infertility? Absolutely yes. I have coined the term ‘Vibrational Infertility’ to replace unexplained infertility. You are fertile. All you have to do is shift your vibration. In joy,Deirdre Morris