Why Infertile Couples Doubt About IVF?

As a society, if a couple is not able to have children, it is considered a major issue. The couple could be looked at and treated differently and so they look at various options to conceive. One of them is in-vitro fertilization or IVF, and with advances in medical technology, the success rates have risen significantly. However, there are a group of infertile couples who still do not seem to be convinced about IVF as “the” solution for infertility.

Read on to know some of the causes.

• Complexity of the condition: There are various aspects that need to be aligned for a pregnancy to happen, and the medical world is yet to have all the answers in place. The doctors too sometimes may be at a loss to explain why the couple has failed to conceive. This makes it difficult as there is no clear answer.
• Communication: While there are some doctors who would take as much time as needed to explain the process, what to expect, etc., there may be others who just give it a briefing and expect the couple to follow the instructions. This can be very difficult for the couple who may not know the reason why some things are done the way they are. The medical and emotional changes that a couple goes through also need to be monitored and supported by the medical team for a successful pregnancy.
• Complications: Despite the best efforts of the medical team, complications such as twin or multiple pregnancies, miscarriages, and congenital anomalies, are common and may not have a clear answer as to why.
• Success rates: Again, IVF does not have a 100% success rate yet. There could be a loss of pregnancy after the first few weeks, which again may be difficult to explain, making couples sceptical about it.
• Economics: As IVF is not a cheap option and insurance does not cover it, there are a lot of people who cannot afford it. This also adds to the scepticism. There is also another group who look at IVF clinics as mere business managers and not medical support teams.
• Risk on the mother: The mother is put through various medications, including high amounts of hormones. The sceptics see this as unfair and feel there should be a more natural way to help the infertile couple. These medications take a toll on the mother’s health. Also, a lot of IVF pregnancies result in multiple pregnancies, often twins, which is another load on the mother.

So, though IVF is helping a lot of couples, some definitely have their doubts about the process.