According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 15% of couples trying to conceive in the US are unsuccessful after 12 consecutive months of unprotected intercourse. Of those men and women, about one-third have male factor infertility, one-third female factor infertility, and the remaining third suffer from a combination of both, or receive a diagnosis of unknown infertility.
Thankfully, assisted reproductive technology helps couples and individuals suffering from infertility realize their goal of a successful pregnancy. A couple or individual receives a diagnosis of infertility, typically, when, after one year of unprotected sex (or six months for women over 35), they’ve failed to conceive. Your doctor may also diagnose infertility if you aren’t able to carry a baby to term.
IVF is a successful treatment for many of those who suffer from infertility. But it’s not always the right treatment. Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may suggest a different path. So how do you know if IVF is right for you? Here we offer some indications you may benefit from IVF.
Reasons You Should Consider IVF
Couples and individuals who pursue IVF do so on the recommendation of their physician, after an infertility diagnosis. Issues with your fertility and conditions involving your reproductive health help determine if you need IVF. Some factors, such as maternal age or a known genetic condition, may lead you to consult with your doctor regarding IVF. However, more often, there are underlying, previously unknown reasons you fail to conceive. Here are some common conditions that lead to IVF as treatment:
- Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a painful condition that occurs when tissue similar to that which lines the uterus grows outside of the uterus. It attaches to your pelvic organs, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes. As it sheds in response to your monthly cycle, it creates scar tissue. If you suffer from endometriosis, you are a great candidate for IVF.
- Damaged Fallopian Tubes: When your fallopian tubes sustain damage due to endometriosis or other issues, IVF offers a solution. Because IVF involves fertilizing your egg outside of your body, it bypasses your fallopian tubes altogether.
- Male Factor Infertility: If you suffer from a low sperm count, low motility (slow sperm), or poorly shaped sperm (poor morphology), IVF is the answer. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a procedure done during IVF whereby the lab injects sperm directly into the egg, causing fertilization.
- Advanced Maternal Age: Fertility declines with age, as most people know. As a woman nears menopause, her eggs become less viable, and there are fewer eggs overall. IVF helps these women by selecting the healthiest eggs for fertilization. Through preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), you’ll also have the peace of mind that your baby doesn’t suffer from chromosomal abnormalities, which become a significant risk with advanced maternal age.
- Unexplained Infertility: Doctors advise IVF after other treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), fail. Because IVF is more exact, the chances for success with unexplained infertility are better.
- Genetic Disorders: If you’re concerned about a genetic condition and wish to ensure the health of your baby, IVF is the only fertility treatment in which an embryologist can test the embryos for genetic abnormalities and chromosomal conditions before implantation through PGT. That way, you have assurance that you don’t pass a genetic condition on to your baby.
Factors to Consider
Your doctor may recommend a different approach to begin, even if you’re diagnosed with some of the conditions. Treatment such as IUI may precede a recommendation for IVF because it is less costly and far less involved and invasive. However, IVF is generally more successful in the long run.
While success rates are high for IVF, how you respond to the treatment depends on many different factors. Your age, overall health, and diagnosis influence your outcome. Some couples require multiple cycles before conception. Because each case is unique, your doctor’s input is invaluable.
Is IVF Right for You?
If you’re considering IVF as your path to parenthood, please schedule your consultation with LA IVF today. We are Southern California’s foremost experts in treatment for Infertility. Our knowledgeable specialists can answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you make an informed decision regarding IVF or any other infertility treatment. We look forward to hearing from you.
