title: Opinions about 'unexplained subfertility'.
abstract: The term 'unexplained subfertility' applies to the situation in which a couple, despite serious attempts, does not achieve pregnancy, while according to current knowledge no physiological or anatomical abnormalities can be found. In this paper, possible causes of this phenomenon are reviewed and opinions of six doctors working in the field of reproductive medicine are described. The most significant finding of this study is that all doctors hold personal views with a high level of certainty about the causes of unexplained subfertility. However, they hardly agree with each other! In conclusion, in the field of reproductive medicine there is a dangerous combination of strong personal opinions and much disagreement with regards to unexplained infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Groningen University Hospital, PO Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. l.batstra@medps.azg.nl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Batstra
authors.forename: H B M
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: van de Wiel
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schuiling
mesh_terms: D005104:Expert Testimony; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male