10 Myths About Fertility Treatment - Reproductive Sciences Medical Center

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• 10 Myths About Fertility Treatment

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Fertility treatments have saved the happiness of
millions of families around the world.
Unfortunately, there are some myths that
stigmatize fertility treatments and make others
wary of them. The following are common
misconceptions and the truth to these commonly
mistaken aspects of fertility treatment.
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Myth 1 IVF is the one and only option

• Truth IVF is usually not the first choice when
  it comes to fertility treatment. Couples often
  start with natural conception, however when this
  does not work they begin to explore their
  options. When couples have unexplained
  infertility problems and the woman is below the
  age of 38, the first option is usually
  Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). An IUI cycle is
  less likely to lead to pregnancy compared to IVF
  but most young women who have fertility issues do
  conceive with this treatment. Most fertility
  doctors will recommend at least three IUI cycles.
  If within the three cycles the woman does not
  become pregnant then IVF is recommended.

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Myth 2 Fertility doctors and clinics are all
the same.

• Truth Many doctors have worked in both
  large-scale clinics and in small private
  practices, so this couldnt be further from the
  truth.  In smaller private practices doctors can
  do the following
• Provide personalized care to their patients by
  offering them a treatment that closely suits
  their needs.
• Carry out personalized monitoring and procedural
  check- ups compared to large scale hospitals with
  doctor-on-duty system.
• Keep in touch with their patients daily over the
  phone or via email.

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Myth 3 Fertility treatments are too expensive.

• Truth Some insurance policies will cover the
  full cost associated with fertility treatments
  and others may pay for a portion of the costs.
   If your insurance company does not cover any of
  the costs, there are payment options. Some
  patients who meet certain criteria might be
  eligible for a refund program if IVF is not
  successful.

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Myth 4 Fertility treatments take too long.

• Truth We are dedicated to our patients, so we
  accommodate as best we can to make sure our
  patients schedule are not inconveniently
  interfered. However it is important to note that
  the preparation for an IVF cycle may take a
  couple of weeks for new patients, while keeping
  office visits to a minimum. This is also
  dependent on the patients schedule. Once an IVF
  cycle begins, women go through 10 to 11 days of
  injections, with egg retrieval coming two days
  after the last injection.   
• During these two weeks, patients do need to be
  monitored closely. Most clinics require between
  four and six visits throughout an IVF cycle. The
  appointments are usually done first thing in the
  morning, so the patients work schedule will not
  be interrupted.  

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Myth 5 I will have twins or triplets if I use
fertility treatments.

• Truth Even though the chances of getting
  pregnant with more than one child increases with
  the use of fertility treatments, it is not
  always the case and can be controlled.
• The risk of developing twins is less than 2
  through IVF. During IVF you can choose to have
  only one embryo to be transferred.
• Through IUI, the doctor can often predict the
  number of mature eggs likely to be ovulated.
  Doctors utilize ultrasounds and hormone level
  indicators to determine these. These allow the
  doctor and patient to decide it the risk is too
  high for multiples.  

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Myth 6 Fertility treatment poses more risks to
the child.

• Truth There are no notable differences between
  children conceived naturally and those conceived
  via IVF. However, studies suggest that after an
  IVF treatment, there is a slightly higher risk of
  the child having a physical birth defect.  
• In the general population, there is a 3 to 4
  percent chance of a child being born with a birth
  defect. With IVF there is a 4 to 5 percent
  chance of a child having a birth defect.  

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Myth 7 There is a guarantee of conception with
IVF.

• Truth IVF does not guarantee conception but does
  greatly increase the chances of conception among
  couples who have been trying to get pregnant.
  The rate of success is dependent on a womans
  age. Women who are 35 years or younger have a
  higher chance of getting pregnant from a single
  IVF treatment. This is generally around 50-60.
  The odds of a couple conceiving naturally during
  any cycle is less than 25. A couple with
  infertility issues, on the other hand, have less
  than a 5 chance.

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Myth 8 I am too young to consider fertility
treatment.

• Truth A younger woman has a better chance of
  conceiving with fertility treatment. If a couple
  has tried for at least one year and has not had
  success, fertility treatment will increase their
  odds of becoming pregnant.
• Additionally, women who are still young, and are
  not interested in getting pregnant at that moment
  in time, may freeze their eggs for future use.

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Myth 9 I am too old for fertility treatment.

• Truth We specialize in challenging cases and we
  do not turn down patients. Your age my affect
  your chances of pregnancy. Fortunately, our
  physicians provide a wide array of services that
  help older women pursue their dreams of
  parenthood.

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Myth 10 I am not interested in getting pregnant
now, so there is no reason for me to meet with a
fertility doctor.

• Truth Young women, as well as those between the
  age of 35 and 40 should preserve their fertility
  by freezing their eggs. This is a way to stop
  the clock and start a family when they are
  ready.   
• Additionally, women should see a fertility
  doctor for an assessment when they are ready.
  Fertility doctors can teach couples how to
  attempt to properly conceive. They can also do an
  initial assessment of a womans ovarian reserve
  to help them better understand the process.

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CONCLUSION

• Before selecting the best fertility option, do
  your own research. This will save you both time
  and money. At Reproductive Sciences Medical
  Center, we are here to give you all the necessary
  support to ensure your family success.  For this
  and much more, do not hesitate to call us today
  at 858-436-7186.