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INFERTILITY: TALES OF THE UNEXPLAINED SUNDAY, 23 JUNE 2019 Organised by the Special Interest Group Reproductive Endocrinology Course coordinator Daniela Romualdi (Italy), Peter Humaidan (Denmark) Course type Advanced Course description Infertility is defined as failure to conceive after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse; however, a diagnosis of unexplained infertility can only be made after the exclusion of the most common causes. For this purpose investigations, including semen analyses, basic endocrinology, assessment of ovulation and normal tubal patency remain the cornerstones. However, a large proportion of couples will have normal basic fertility testing, and multiple other factors seem to play a role for unexplained infertility. One of the most important factors is the age of the woman, impacting the aneuploidy rate, and embryonic aneuploidy is the cause of implantation failure in 50% of cases; moreover, uterine pathology including fibroids, endometrial polyps, congenital anomalies and intrauterine adhesions play a role for failure to conceive. More recently DNA sperm fragmentation (DFI) has received increasing attention as a possible cause of unexplained infertility. Finally, the corpus luteum function and the role of the endometrium has beeen neglected during more recent years. However, couples with unexplained infertility might be reassured that even after 12 months of infertility, 50% will conceive during the following 12 months and another 12% during the subsequent year. Regardless of the overall good prognosis unexplained infertility remains a psychological stress for the couple, and a therapeutic challenge to the reproductive endocrinologist. Target audience Reproductive physicians, reproductive nurses, gynecologists, endocrinologists, basic researchers. Educational needs and expected outcomes The need for a better knowledge about unexplained infertility, including investigations other than basic work-up, the most frequent physiological reasons for failure to conceive, the use of different interventions, as well as the prognosis are all important issues for daily clinical practice. PRECONGRESS COURSE 09 I VIENNA, AUSTRIA – 23 JUNE 2019 03