In 2006, the 100,000^th IVF (in vitro fertilisation) baby was born in the UK. For couples having difficulty conceiving naturally, the fertility treatment is a popular choice, but with multiple births a huge risk factor and the hefty cost of treatment, how successful is it?

 

 

“The success of IVF depends on a number of factors, including your age and the cause – if known – of why you’re not conceiving naturally,” explains Dr Allan Pacey, from the British Fertility Society.

 

Each year in the UK nearly 30,000 people undergo IVF and one baby in every 50 is conceived this way. According to clinic data published in the HFEA Guide to Infertility 2006-07, there were 38,264 cycles of treatment given to women between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004. During this period, there were 8,251 births, or 10,242 children born.

 

The average success rate for fresh IVF treatment for women using their own eggs, say the HFEA, is:

 

28.2% for women under 35 years old

23.6% for women between 35-37 years old

18.3% for women aged 38-39 years old

10.6% for women aged 40-42 years old

 

There are various stages involved in IVF. “The woman’s egg supply is boosted with drugs that help control when eggs are produced, plus there are drugs to increase the number of eggs. This means that more eggs can be fertilised and give the clinic a greater choice of fertilised eggs to use in treatment,” explained Angela Mcnab, chief executive of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

 

Ultrasounds monitor the development of eggs then, before they’re collected, women have a hormone injection to help the eggs mature. Once the eggs are collected, they’re mixed together with sperm and left to fertilise. The woman receives progesterone to prepare the lining of the womb for pregnancy before the healthy fertilised eggs are put back into her womb.

 

It sounds straightforward, but as Dr. Allan Pacey says, “IVF is a very stressful process and doesn’t work for everyone.”

 

 

Only about 25% of IVF treatments are paid for by the NHS, with the rest being funded by individuals. Sadly it’s not cheap. Exact costs vary between units, but you can expect to pay a minimum of £100 for an initial consultation, £2000-£4000 for one cycle of IVF, plus drug costs of £400-£1300. Other procedures, such as ultrasounds or blood tests, are usually billed on top.

 

With most women needing about three cycles of IVF to get pregnant, they can spend upwards of £12,000 in the process.

 

 

Multiple births are common with IVF and this partly due to embryo implantation and partly due to the dugs. Doctors implant more than one embryo to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy, and the drugs used to induce ovulation often make ovaries release several eggs at a time.

 

Despite having fallen slightly from the previous year, the number of multiple births between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 remained high, with nearly 1 in 4 (23.6%) of IVF births resulting in either twins or triplets.

 

“We’re still concerned about the levels of twin and triplet pregnancies, which provide the single biggest risk to mothers and their children from IVF treatment,” said Angela McNab. “Multiple births risk endangering the health of both and the children they are carrying and can lead to problems which can last a child’s lifetime.”

 

To try and reduce the problem, the HFEA have imposed restrictions on the number of embryos that can be transferred in IVF. It now stands at a maximum of two for women under the age of 40, two for women using donated eggs and a maximum of three for women aged 40 or over who are using their own eggs.

 

 

* Your age. The success of IVF dwindles with age, especially if you’re over 40 years old, so be realistic.

* The risk of multiple births. Having a multiple birth – twins, triplets or more – is the single greatest health risk associated with IVF and can carry risks to the health of the mother and the unborn babies.

* Be prepared for failure. Although IVF can be successful, it sadly doesn’t work for everyone and isn’t a 100% miracle cure.

* The treatment. The treatment cycles involve numerous tests, drugs, injections and scans, with the drugs often causing bad reactions.

* Existing problems that affect your fallopian tubes. Women having IVF have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, especially if you have existing problems that affect your fallopian tubes.

* The stress on your relationship. IVF is emotionally stressful for both men and women, especially if it doesn’t work.