About Us | Privacy | Site Map
May 23, 2013
Font Size
A
A
A
2
...

In Vitro Fertilization (cont.)

Medical Author:
Medical Editor:

Factors to Consider with In Vitro Fertilization

  • Age: Any woman who is still ovulating may try IVF, although success rates decline as a woman ages. Women under age 35 have the greatest chance of success with this technique.
  • Multiple births: Generally, in women who use IVF to establish a live birth, about 63% are single babies, 32% are twins, and 5% are triplets or more.
  • Cost: IVF is a costly procedure that, in many cases, is not covered by health insurance plans.
  • Reduced need for surgery: If a woman has IVF, she may not have to undergo surgery on her Fallopian tubes. It is estimated that the IVF technique has reduced such surgeries by half.
  • Safety: Studies suggest that in vitro fertilization is safe. A study covered nearly 1,000 children conceived through these methods in five European countries and found that the children monitored from birth to age 5 years, were as healthy as children conceived naturally. However, other studies have found a slightly increased risk of genetic disorders in children conceived through assisted reproductive technologies. However, adverse outcomes during pregnancy and the perinatal period are higher in pregnancies that resulted from IVF. Some or most of this increased risk is due to the fact that a greater proportion of IVF pregnancies involve multiple gestations. However, there is a slight increased risk of complications in singleton pregnancies resulting from IVF, possibly related to the age of the parents or to the underlying conditions which led to the infertility and need for IVF.

Must Read Articles Related to In Vitro Fertilization

Birth Control Hormonal Methods
Birth Control Hormonal Methods "The pill" was introduced in the United States in 1962 and signaled a new era for women and their ability to control their fertility.learn more >>
Infertility
Infertility Infertility affects about 6.1 million people in the United States, about 10% of men and women of reproductive age. A fertility specialist is usually an obstetri...learn more >>
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Pregnancy occurs when an egg is fertilized by a sperm, grows inside a woman's uterus (womb), and develops into a baby. In humans, this process takes about 280 d...learn more >>

Viewer Comments & Reviews

In Vitro Fertilization - Experience

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

Please describe your experience with in vitro fertilization.

Parenting and Pregnancy

Get tips for baby and you.

Please acknowledge your agreement




Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Assisted Reproduction Technology »

Infertility affects approximately 13-14% of reproductive-aged couples.

Read More on Medscape Reference »


Parenting Know-How: We've hand-picked our best pregnancy, baby and parenting content just for you

Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick, easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including 24 hour, pharmacies