Creating A Backup Plan With IVF
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most popular forms of assisted reproductive therapy (ART). By fostering fertilization in a laboratory, many women and couples who may struggle to conceive naturally can try to build or expand a family. With the highest success rates for fertility treatments, IVF is a highly sought-after procedure. But sometimes, achieving success is harder than people expect. In particular, some women may struggle with poor ovarian response. When such a problem occurs, people need to be prepared with backup plans.
Poor ovarian response defined
Even though IVF is fairly successful, sometimes the process can be complicated, with multiple factors influencing conception odds. Even though age is one of the biggest determiners of success rates, overall health, and egg quality may also be a factor. If a woman has poor ovarian response the concern is that continuing an IVF round may result in suboptimal results. Not only are the total number of viable eggs that are harvested lower, but if an embryo is formed, implantation may be less likely to occur after transfer.
Modifying stimulation
To combat poor ovarian response, some women will be encouraged to undergo another cycle but in a modified form. Typical ovarian stimulation involves using a high dosage of hormonal medication to boost egg production in the ovaries. However, in women who had poor response, a lower dose regimen that more closely follows natural ovulation may be recommended. The optimal result with a modified method can yield a quality single egg that may have better characteristics that improve fertilization and conception odds.
Understanding hormone levels
Sometimes, even with a modified ovarian stimulation program, a woman might not make enough viable eggs or may have eggs that are unsuccessful for fertilization. However, such an outcome does not mean that this person is not an ideal candidate to carry a pregnancy to term. Fertility tests usually screen for two key hormones: anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Low AMH usually indicates poor ovarian response is likely. Yet normal FSH levels would suggest a woman can still successfully support a pregnancy.
When to consider donor eggs
If a woman has low AMH levels but normal FSH figures, donor eggs might be a possibility if several IVF cycles have passed unsuccessfully. Choosing this route can still allow a woman or couple to conceive and carry to term but bypass the potential risks of more aggressive ovarian stimulation.
Making the right choice
Discussing fertility can be a difficult conversation, but researchers have created an interactive chart that highlights IVF success rates at the clinical level. Women and couples considering undergoing fertility treatments should consider speaking with a specialist who can provide proper guidance while taking into account the unique factors of each case.
