Below are some common myths about infertility and treatment:
1. Only a Woman Needs Treatment If a Couple Cannot Conceive
Women often have to face accusations of being infertile and unable to conceive. However, this is not always true. Men can be equally responsible regarding fertility issues. So it is a must that both men and women undergo a test to determine where the issue lies. Accordingly, you must plan the treatment to ensure best results.
2. Children Conceived via IVF Are Prone to Deformities
When a woman conceives a baby via assisted techniques like IVF, it becomes important to conduct several tests to check for genetic disorders. If you discover genetic deformities at an early stage of pregnancy, you can consider abortion as an option.
3. IVF Is an Option Only For Famous Individuals With a Lot Of Money
IVF, no doubt, is an expensive treatment. However, the cost varies with doctors, clinics, and the health condition of the mother. You can delay the treatment sometimes to gather the money for treatment. Additionally, you can easily opt for insurance to cover the expenses. There are a lot of IVF clinics that charge comparatively less. Hence, you must conduct thorough research before opting for one.
4. Success Rates Of IVF Are 100% Across Cases
The success of an IVF depends on a lot of factors such as age, hormonal conditions, biological changes and also the reason for infertility. These factors considerably affect the success of the procedure. Hence, IVF never has a 100% success rate. There can be times when you might have to undergo the procedure multiple times for successful implantation.
5. IVF Is a One-Step Solution to All Fertility Problems
A woman might face fertility problems due to several reasons. For instance, she can have hormonal problems, which will persist during IVF as well. Also, it is easier for women to conceive below 35 years of age. You must consult a doctor to understand the exact nature of your infertility issue and follow a suitable treatment procedure.
6. ART Can Result in Having Twins
During IVF, doctors transfer multiple embryos so that at least one of them leads to a successful pregnancy. This can cause double implantation, and hence, twins. However, the chances of having twins are more when the age of the woman is below 35 years. Above this age, the chances are considerably less. You can also opt for a single embryo transplant to avoid the chances of twins.
7. Egg Count Might Reduce If You Donate Them for IVF
This is one of the popular IVF myths that need to be busted. It is known to all that women only produce about 4,00,000 eggs, of which only one egg is needed during fertilization. Hence, even if the doctor hyper-stimulates your ovary to extract eggs, you will have enough of them for future pregnancies.
8. IVF Can Be Opted Only at a Young Age
Women at any age can opt for IVF. There is no age bar to this treatment. However, women below 35 of age have higher chances for a successful pregnancy on the first or second try. For women above 35, a successful pregnancy can take longer. They might require 4 to five sittings or even more ensure successful implantation. Hence, the earlier you opt for IVF, the better.
9. Complete Bed Rest Is Essential for the Success of ARTs
You can continue with your daily activities and work even when you are undergoing the IVF procedure, just like normal pregnancies. There is absolutely no reason to halt your daily activities. However, you must take good care of yourself, just like any other pregnancy. Do not skip lunch, take medicines timely, keep yourself hydrated and take adequate rest to stay healthy.
10. IVF Babies Can Be Delivered Only Through C-Section
A doctor recommends C-section deliveries only when a baby is wrongly positioned inside the womb. A C-section is also a delivery choice for patients to avoid excess pain. This is also an option during premature births. Hence, it is evident that C-section deliveries are not connected to IVF treatments in any way.
11. IVF Is Not Safe And Can Cause Complications
IVF is an extremely safe option, provided that you choose a reputed clinic which is well-equipped for the treatment. However, there lies a slight risk when the doctor hyper-stimulates your ovary for egg extraction.
Knowing IVF myths and facts is essential to decide on undergoing it. Prior to finalizing a clinic, research thoroughly about it, find out more about the equipment they use and the overall hygiene maintenance. You can also speak to existing IVF patients at the clinic to be sure about its results.
Conceiving through IVF is an expensive process and involves a lot of expectations. So never compromise on expense, treatment or hygiene during IVF.