Unexplained Infertility (Pt 1) Moving Beyond the Medical Model to Explain Unexplained Infertility

Unexplained Infertility Diagnosedaims to find medical treatments for diagnosed
Getting pregnant and staying pregnant can consumesymptoms and syndromes and treats the human
your whole life when you really want to have yourbody as a very complex mechanism. The medical
own baby now. In spite of the fact that each of usmodel emphasises anatomical, physiological and
comes from a very long line of successfulbiochemical malfunction as the causes of ill health and
pregnancies, many women today are finding itby doing so encourages a disease-orientated
difficult to conceive or enjoy a pregnancy until theapproach to the patient (Jefferey).
safe birth or their baby.Why Is Unexplained Infertility Unexplained?
Indeed, according to Hart (2003) in the British MedicalThe medical model, while very useful, is just not
Journal, up to 25% of patients who present foradequate for understanding what is really happening
investigation in a reproductive medicine clinic arefor couples who are experiencing challenges
diagnosed with unexplained infertility (UI). He explainsbecoming pregnant or seeing a healthy pregnancy
that UI is a diagnosis of exclusion. When no otherthrough to a full term birth without any obvious
reason for not being able to become pregnant orphysical, anatomical or biochemical cause.
stay pregnant can be found, unexplained infertility isThe truth is that the reason why unexplained
the diagnosis one receives.infertility is unexplained is because the causes lie
Webster's dictionary defines 'Unexplained' as (1) notbeyond the scope of the medical model. But instead
explained or (2) having the reason or cause not madeof saying ´we don't know or understand why
clear. So a diagnosis of unexplained infertility justyou are not conceiving or keeping your baby until full
means that the the' why' you are not gettingterm´, men and women trying to get
pregnant or staying pregnant is not clear. Not clear,pregnant and stay pregnant are handed this diagnosis.
that is, to the people you are asking (in this instanceCould there be a cause or explanation that standard
medical doctors). Not clear within the frameworkor even specialized medical or surgical procedures and
they are using. Not clear, then, through the lens oftest are just not able to detect? Of course. Is there
the medical model.another way to explain unexplained infertility?
Unexplained Infertility and the Medical ModelAbsolutely yes.
The medical model is an approach to pathology that