5 Common Mistakes in IVF Treatment

Gynecology, Obstetrics and IVF Specialist Op.Dr.Numan Bayazıt gave important information on the subject.

FALSE: IVF treatment is only done as a last resort.

RIGHT: In some cases, it is more rational to try in vitro fertilization first. For example, today, operations to open duct blockages in both men and women are very rare, and in vitro fertilization is preferred as a priority. Because the success rates of these operations are very low. If the age of the woman who applied to have a child is over 40, it is not recommended to do IUI, that is, vaccination, because it is simpler than in vitro fertilization. Because the pregnancy rate to be achieved by vaccination in this age group is around 5%. A treatment with these rates is a waste of time, especially in the advanced age group. Another example is the infertility treatment of women with polycystic ovaries (PCO). If pregnancy could not be achieved easily with 5-day pill treatments in this group, is it correct to stimulate the ovaries with needles or should we go directly to in vitro fertilization? The one mentioned in the first place can be more risky and costly many times.

FALSE: IVF treatment can be a solution to all infertility problems.

RIGHT: In vitro fertilization means that the sperm and egg are fertilized in the laboratory and then transferred into the uterus. An IVF doctor ensures that the procedure is done correctly, with the right preparations. It is impossible to get results if there is no healthy sperm, egg and uterus. For example, we cannot apply IVF to a woman in menopause or to a couple who cannot find sperm with MikroTESE operation.

FALSE: IVF treatment can only be applied to young people.

RIGHT: Even if a woman is older, she can try in vitro fertilization as long as she has menstruation. However, as both the number and quality of the eggs decrease with age, the chance of pregnancy decreases. Women who are older and whose number of eggs have decreased can compensate for this disadvantage to some extent by collecting eggs many times. This is called the pool system. The age-related decrease in chance is especially evident after the age of 43. It is recommended that those in this age group should not continue if the infertility period is long and they have not been able to obtain results in many previous attempts. However, a couple of the same age who have been married for several years or have just decided to have a child may be encouraged to seek treatment.

FALSE: Twins or triplets always occur in IVF treatment.

RIGHT: No. The probability of multiple pregnancy is related to the number of embryos given. In the past, because the laboratory conditions were not very good, more embryos were given, twin and triplet pregnancies were frequent. Today, by choosing embryos with high pregnancy potential with techniques such as blastocyst transfer and PGT-A, it has become possible to transfer a small number of embryos and achieve high pregnancy rates. A woman over 35 years of age who has 2 embryos transferred has a 10-20% probability of twin pregnancy.

FALSE: The repetition of IVF treatment takes place a certain number of times.

RIGHT: There is no specific number. There may be those who have made more than 10 attempts and achieved pregnancy. In these cases, it is important for the IVF doctor to guide the patient correctly. We say so if we think he'll have a chance, otherwise we suggest he quit. In this decision, the age of the woman, the quality of the embryos and the condition of the uterus guide us.