Despite its increasing public attention, there are still plenty of myths about in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology. Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Jacqueline Gutmann explains the reality of these misconceptions.
Myth: You will have twins or triplets with IVF
Busted!: It is true that fertility treatment increases the risk of having a multiple pregnancy. However, most twins result from spontaneous conceptions — couples who conceive on their own! Triplets or more are a different story; approximately 15% of triplet and 7% of quadruplet pregnancies were conceived spontaneously.
The increased risk of a multiple pregnancy during fertility treatment is a result of the medication used to cause or increase ovulation. Approximately 5-8% of pregnancies conceived with the use of clomiphene citrate, an oral fertility drug, are twins. Triplets or greater occur very infrequently. The use of gonadotropins, which are injectable fertility drugs, result in twins about 15% of the time and more than twins in about 3% of cycles.
The risk of multiple pregnancies is also increased with IVF. Younger women are more likely to have twins than those who are somewhat older. In the US, approximately one-third of women under the age of 35 undergoing IVF will have twins, whereas less than 10% of women over 42 will have twins. The risk of triplets is low in all age groups because most women under 35 will have only one or two embryos transferred.
Though fertility treatment generally increases the risk of a multiple pregnancy, the majority of individuals and couples will have a single baby! Multiple pregnancy is also on the decline as more physicians are recommending a single embryo transfer (SET or eSET) a procedure in which a single embryo is transferred into the uterus.
Myth: IVF always works. Everyone who uses IVF is successful and has a baby.
Busted!: Though we would like for all of our patients to achieve a successful pregnancy, unfortunately, there is no fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), that always works for everyone. The likelihood of a successful IVF cycle is impacted by a number of factors, the most important being the age of the female partner.
Information collected from almost all of the IVF programs in the country found that women under 35 had a 41% chance of having a baby from a single IVF cycle. The chance of success drops to 32% in women between the ages of 35 to 37, and 22% in women between the ages of 38 to 40. That number is even lower in women over 40 years of age.
Success rates also vary with the number of embryos transferred; the likelihood of pregnancy increases when more embryos are replaced, but so does the risk of twins. The chance to have a baby from IVF increases when more than a single cycle is done. Though not everyone who undergoes IVF treatment will have success, the majority will!
Myth: Infertility treatment is covered by all insurance companies.
Busted!: Many insurance companies do offer coverage for the various stages of the evaluation and treatment of infertility. Exactly what is covered often varies from insurer to insurer, and from policy to policy. Some insurers will only cover the examination and testing to determine the cause of infertility, while others will cover treatment and medications.
The kind of treatment that is covered also varies. For example, some policies may cover intrauterine insemination (IUI) when used in conjunction with medication to increase ovulation, but may not cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) whereas others may cover both or nothing at all. In addition, 15 states require that insurers include infertility benefits in their policies, though what is covered also varies from state to state.
As a result, it is important to study your policy to determine if, and to what extent, you may be covered. Many fertility practices have financial counselors to help you through this, to answer your questions about your insurance benefits, and to work with the insurer to determine what is covered.
Myth: IUI and IVF are the only options for couples struggling with infertility.
Busted!: There are many options for couples experiencing infertility. Treatment protocols are tailored to each couple and are dependent on factors like age, how long a couple has been trying to get pregnant, and the results of testing.
- A woman may have a problem with her thyroid gland that causes her not to ovulate; treating with thyroid hormone can restore ovulation allowing for pregnancy.
- A man may have a semen analysis that shows decreased motility; IUI, with or without medication, might be the best treatment option.
- If a woman doesn’t ovulate, medication to cause ovulation would be the most appropriate treatment-insemination may not be necessary at all.
- Women with blocked tubes are probably best treated with IVF, though surgery may also be an option.
- The treatment approach may be more aggressive in a woman approaching 40 or in a couple who has been struggling with infertility for several years.
These are just a few examples of available treatment approaches. Treatment plans are individualized; there are several alternatives and there should not be a “one size fits all” approach to infertility.
Myth: The babies conceived through ART will have problems such as birth defects, low birth weight, and developmental delays.
Busted!: Though we hope all babies will be born without any problems, unfortunately, this is not the case. Children conceived naturally to couples who have never struggled with infertility have a 3 – 5% risk of birth defects and a 1 – 2% likelihood of experiencing developmental delays. Pregnancies conceived naturally in women experiencing infertility may be at a slightly higher risk for pregnancy complications.
IUI, when used without stimulation medication, does not appear to further increase the risk of birth defects or developmental delays. Pregnancy-related complications are increased with ovarian stimulation, though this can be largely attributed to risks associated with twins.
Babies born from IVF, while typically still in the normal range, might be a little smaller than those conceived naturally. The majority of studies have not found an increased risk of birth defects in babies conceived with IVF. The use of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which is typically used when sperm quantity and/or quality is reduced, is associated with a very slight increase in chromosomal abnormalities and birth defects.
Fortunately, if there is an increase in problems such as birth defects, low birth weight, and developmental delays in babies conceived through ART, it is very small. The overwhelming majority of babies born as a result of fertility treatment are fine!
