IVF: The Road To A Successful Pregnancy
Many couples dream of starting a family, but after months or even years of trying, the couple are still childless. Couples who are already over 30 may feel as though starting a family may never be a possibility. However, this may be because the couple hasn’t considered IVF.
IVF: don’t sweat the small stuff
Even just thinking about IVF can be stressful. Many questions arise, such as, who is suitable for IVF, how long does the treatment take, and importantly, will IVF really work? There is no guarantee that one or more IVF cycles will result in a successful live birth, but the success rate is much higher than many people think.
IVF: the will to succeed
There are several factors which affect the success of IVF. Here is a rundown on the most significant factors and how each one can affect the chance of a successful live birth.
Age
Women who wish to use personal biological eggs should consider age as a factor. Younger women have higher chances of IVF success because these women have more eggs. Women over the age of 35, on the other hand, will have fewer eggs and the quality of the eggs will be lower. Live birth success rates for women under 35 who start an IVF cycle is 52%.
Previous pregnancy
Another important factor is if a woman has been pregnant before, and if so if the pregnancy was with the same partner. Women who have had a previous successful pregnancy and are going through an IVF cycle with the same partner, have a greater chance of success. The chance may be lower with a different partner.
Type of fertility issues
Some male factors, such as sperm quality, affect IVF. Women’s issues, such as fibroid tumors and uterine abnormalities can affect the success of IVF. When both partners are infertile, the length of the period of infertility becomes important.
Use of donor eggs
Women over the age of 35 may want to consider using donor eggs to increase the chance of a successful live birth. However, the age and lifestyle of the donor must also be taken into consideration. Using donor eggs can significantly increase the chances of success for women over 40.
