Myths and Facts About IVF

About one out of every eight couples in the United States has trouble getting pregnant. If you’re one of them, you’ve probably wondered whether in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the right next step for you. If you’ve started looking into it and have come away confused by conflicting messages, you’re not alone. The internet is full of IVF disinformation.

That’s why our team of experts here at IVFMD in Arlington, Irving, and Grapevine, Texas, has taken this opportunity to bust the myths surrounding IVF and give you the straight truth.

And getting your facts straight about common misconceptions is only the beginning. There are several treatment options available, and each is highly dependent on your unique situation, so don’t make your mind up about IVF before you come talk with us. Our sole passion is to help couples become parents, and we have extensive experience doing just that.

A word about IVF

In vitro fertilization is simply a way to bypass certain obstacles to fertility by fertilizing your eggs outside your body and implanting them once they’ve cultured.

For many couples, this is exactly the answer they’ve been looking for. It allows them to use their own eggs and sperm and carry their own child during pregnancy. However, it’s not for everybody, and there are several other treatments that address different fertility issues.

AT IVFMD, we hear questions and stories that make it clear there’s a lot of misinformation circulating around the concept of IVF, so we decided to address them here.

Myth #1: If I’m infertile, IVF is my only option

Infertility is a complex medical condition with many possible causes and contributing factors. The way you address your challenge to conceive depends heavily on the root cause of the issue.

For example, if you or your partner have anatomical abnormalities that are blocking fertilization, we start there. If a hormonal imbalance is causing the problem, we address that issue first.

If you have irregular periods that are interfering with your efforts to conceive, we may suggest ovulation induction, to trigger your brain to release the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn stimulates ovulation. This treatment is also helpful if you suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is also another great option if your infertility is related to male factors, endometriosis, cervical issues, or semen allergies.

Myth #2: IVF will make me have multiple babies

In the early days of IVF, doctors typically transferred several fertilized embryos in the hopes that at least one of them would survive. When several survived, the women ended up with twins, triplets, quadruplets, and more.

But technological advancements have made it possible for us to assess the viability of the embryos and select one or two with the highest score for transfer. We freeze the others for your future.

Myth #3: IVF is great for older women

The reason it’s harder for older women to get pregnant is that their eggs are older, less plentiful, and less viable. In fact, as you age, every part of your body becomes a bit weaker and your reproductive system slows down as it prepares for menopause.

IVF can be very successful for older women, but there’s no guarantee, especially if you have low egg reserve. If this describes your situation, we often suggest a variation of IVF called mini IVF, which uses an oral medication to trigger the release of natural stimulating hormones and helps the injected medication stimulate the few follicles you have left.

We also offer an exciting new device called INVOCELL®, which mimics the environment in your fallopian tubes, where fertilization typically occurs. This device is designed to reside in your vagina (held securely by a diaphragm) until the embryos have properly incubated. After about five days, we select the healthiest embryo to implant in your uterus.

Myth #4: IVF leads to cancer

You may have heard rumors about IVF causing cancer, but studies show that’s just not true. The only risk of cancer that’s related in any way to IVF involves cases of women who undergo 4 or more cycles of IVF. Even if and when this occurs, it’s so infrequent that it’s statistically insignificant.

Know your options

The best way to keep your facts straight about infertility and your treatment options is to partner with our knowledgeable team at IVFMD. Diagnosing and treating infertility is all we do, and we’ve been doing it successfully for more than two decades.

We love our patients, and we’re happy to hear the feeling is mutual. If you or your partner are struggling with infertility, we invite you to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified specialists who can help you grow the family of your dreams. Call us at any of our three offices or book your appointment online today.