There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about fertility treatments that differ in reality. With that being said, it is reasonable to have questions, especially if you are considering IVF cycle or any other fertility treatment at a clinic. There are so many concepts revolving around on the topic. It is difficult to determine the truth from a rumor. This blog by leading fertility doctors will discuss common misconceptions regarding fertility treatment.
Myth: Insurance Covers Fertility Treatment
Reality: Insurance does Not cover all fertility treatments. In fact, every insurance policy differs from the next. A lot of insurance companies do cover the different stages of the medical evaluation and certain fertility treatments, but not all. It is important to remember that coverage usually varies from company to company, as well as from policy to policy.
Some insurers will only provide coverage for the screening- to know the causes of infertility. Whereas, others may offer to cover treatment and medications. The type of treatment covered by these insurance companies also varies. For instance, some policies may cover IVF Cycle, but not IUI. While others may cover both fertility options. Additionally, some states require that insurance companies include infertility benefits in their policies. However, what is covered also can vary from one state to the other. You must review your own insurance policy to know if they do offer coverage and to what extent. Many fertility clinics have financial counselors that can help answer questions about your insurance, infertility benefits, and the best options for you under your policy.
Myth: IVF always works
Reality: It is without a doubt that fertility doctors do their best to ensure that all intended couples and individuals conceive. Sadly, no fertility treatment (not even IVF Cycle) works 100% of the time. Whether or not a fertility treatment cycle becomes successful is dependent upon many factors. The most important of them is the age of the female eggs.
Data gathered from nearly all IVF programs in the US showed that women below 35 years of age had a 41% chance of having a child from one IVF cycle. The success rates decrease to 32% in women aged 35 to 37, and 22% in those between the ages of 38 to 40. The rate is even lower in women above 40 years of age. However, it is still possible for women above 40 years of age to conceive with the help of IVF.
IVF success rates can also depend on the number of embryos transferred. The more embryos that are transferred to the womb of the female partner, the higher the likelihood of pregnancy. There is also a higher chance of multiple pregnancies. The probability of having a child from IVF increases in carrying out two or more cycles. Although not all couples and individuals who undergo IVF Cycle will achieve success, most of them will.
Myth: You will have multiple births
Reality: While it’s true that fertility treatment raises the probability of having multiple births, this does not necessarily mean it is for sure. As a matter of fact, most twin pregnancies are conceived spontaneously (that is, the couple got pregnant on their own). However, while twins are a common misconception, fertility patients, are in fact, more likely to give birth to triplets or more. Approximately 85% of triplets and 93% of quadruplet pregnancies are the results of fertility treatments. This higher risk of multiple pregnancies is a result of the ovarian stimulation medication used during fertility treatment. Around 5 to 8% of pregnancies conceived with the help of clomiphene citrate results in twins. “Higher-order” pregnancy (with three or more babies) rarely occurs. Women treated with gonadotropins end up having twins 15% of the time and triplets or more in 3% of cycles.
The risk of multiple pregnancies decreases with age. Younger women have a higher chance of having twins than older women. For instance, in the US, approximately 33% of IVF patients below 35 years of age will have twins. As well, less than 10% of those aged 42 and above will do. Since women below 32 rarely have more than two embryos transfer, there is a low risk of having triplets in all age categories.
Although fertility treatment increases the odds of having multiple pregnancies, most intended couples and individuals are usually going to end up with just one baby.
Myth: These are the only Fertility Treatment options for couples dealing with infertility
Reality: There are a lot of options for couples who are finding it difficult to get pregnant. Treatment protocols are customized by fertility clinics or fertility doctors, for each couple and depend on several factors. These include medical testing results, age, and the period of time that a couple has been trying to conceive. For instance, a woman may have a thyroid gland issue preventing her from ovulating but be perfectly fertile. Treating the woman with thyroid hormones can help restore regular ovulation and allow her to become pregnant.
Similarly, a semen analysis may show that a man has low sperm motility. The most appropriate solution in this particular case may be Intrauterine insemination (IUI). This can include the use of ovarian stimulation drugs, but not always. If a woman is not ovulating, medications to stimulate ovulation would be the best fertility treatment. There may be no need for insemination. Although surgery may also be a good option, women with blocked Fallopian tubes get the best treatment with IVF.
Note that a more aggressive treatment approach may be required for women close to 40 years of age or couples who have been battling infertility for many years. These are just some examples of treatment options for infertile couples. No treatment approach is suitable for everyone, and there are many other options you must consider.
Myth: Children conceived through ART will have a higher chance of congenital birth defects, developmental delays, or low birth weight.
Reality: Although we hope all children are going to be born without any issues, sadly, things don’t always turn out that way. Babies conceived naturally to individuals or couples who have never had infertility issues have around 1 to 2% chance of having developmental delays and 3 to 5% risk of being born with birth defects. However, women struggling with infertility have a slightly higher chance of developing pregnancy complications when they conceive naturally.
IUI, when carried out without medications, does not seem to increase the possibility of developmental delays or birth defects. Ovarian stimulation is responsible for the increase in the likelihood of pregnancy complications which associates with fertility treatments.
Babies conceived with IVF still do fall within the normal range. However, they may be a bit smaller than naturally conceived babies. Most studies have not confirmed that children born from IVF have a higher risk of birth defects. However, the use of ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) associates with it a slightly higher risk of chromosomal disorders and birth defects.
The truth is, even though babies conceived using ART are more likely to have low birth weight, birth defects, and developmental delays, the chance of this occurring is minimal. As per the doctors, most babies conceived from fertility treatments are born without any problems!
Conclusion
There are several misconceptions relating to the use of fertility treatments to conceive a child. There is no solution that is suitable for everyone, as each individual’s situation differs from the next. We are the best fertility clinic in San Diego with a friendly Team and Doctors to provide fertility treatments. If you have any questions about IVF Cycle or fertility treatment options, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Reproductive Science Medical Center (Best Fertility clinic in San Diego). You can always visit us at www.fertile.com or call 858-436-7186 to schedule a consultation.
