IVF procedure. Destroying Myths - Lita

IVF procedure. Destroying Myths

12 November 2019

According to statistics, every 5th married couple in Ukraine has problems conceiving a child, and about 20% of them need an IVF procedure. IVF is in vitro fertilization. The history of IVF began over 40 years, and despite this, many myths appear around this procedure from year to year, and as soon as some are dispelled, others appear. But what is the truth? These are only the reproductologists who know. In this article, the most popular myths about the IVF procedure will be debunked, as well as some interesting facts about reproductive medicine will be given.

5 most common myths about IVF

Myth 1. IVF means high chances of giving birth to a sick or premature baby

That is for sure a wrong opinion. It actually all happens the other way as a child born via the IVF procedure will be healthier. The fact is that the most high-quality embryos are chosen for artificial insemination; therefore, children grow up more healthy. It is worth noting that the first child in the world who was conceived with the help of IVF, Louise Brown, is a healthy mother who gave birth to two sons in a natural way. Doctors say that in vitro fertilization does not affect the health of children or their future reproductive ability.

Myth 2. The IVF procedure negatively affects the further reproductive function in women.

This is not true. For most women, reproductive health is not exposed to any negative influences, and the hormonal system works no worse than before in vitro fertilization. Of course, if you do IVF more than 4 times, there is a high probability that the hormonal background will be ‘depleted’ then, so doctors do not recommend exceeding the number of IVF cycles.

Myth 3. Using IVF, you can choose the gender of the unborn child

This is also not true. It is impossible to determine the sex of the fetus before the transfer of embryos into the uterus without special studies. But there is a procedure that allows to find out its chromosome set and determine gender within 5 days of the embryo development.

Myth 4. IVF is one of the ways to cure infertility

This is another well-established myth. Artificial insemination only helps couples get around the problem of infertility and finally become parents. Indeed, the treatment of infertility begins long before IVF, and when all attempts to conceive a child are futile, reproductologists suggest paying attention to artificial insemination, which acts as a ‘lifeline’ for those who really want to have children.

Myth 5. IVF always leads to the birth of twins

The most common misconception. Although, indeed, after IVF, multiple pregnancy occurs much more often than during natural conception, but this does not give a 100% guarantee to think that a woman will necessarily give birth to twins or triplets. As you know, doctors usually transfer several embryos at once in order to increase the chances that at least one of them will survive successfully. Therefore, in fact, there are many stories when twins or triplets are born more often after IVF than after a natural pregnancy.

And here are some interesting facts about IVF ‘for dessert’

  • According to statistics, over 6 million children in the world were born thanks to the IVF procedure. It is amazing how many people have gained the right to life thanks to modern medicine.
  • IVF is an effective and safe way to conceive a child at almost any age.
  • The IVF procedure is painless, because all injections are made with a tiny needle into the subcutaneous fat layer in the abdomen and almost do not cause any discomfort.
  • IVF has no side effects, of course, if this procedure was performed by a qualified doctor.

If you are interested in the IVF procedure, if you want to receive a detailed consultation or any other reliable information about artificial insemination, contact the LITA Reproductive Medicine Clinic.