The role of expectant management for couples with unexplained infertility

Abstract

In couples with unexplained infertility, no convincing evidence is available that treatment with intra uterine insemination (IUI) with or without ovarian stimulation (OS) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF) improves pregnancy rates compared to expectant management. Expectant management in couples with unexplained infertility leads to live birth rates varying between 10 and 50 % per year, depending on their prognosis, based on female age, duration of subfertility and the outcomes of the fertility workup. Optimal implementation of expectant management in couples with good prospects of natural conception can prevent unnecessary treatments, complications and costs.