14 DAY TRIAL // While IVF has been hailed as the best method to conceive when chances of a natural pregnancy are slim to none, doctors advise that couples wait for nature to run its course before heading to the doctor’s. A new study has shown that chances for women who have tried for a year to have a baby and turn to IVF to get pregnant are only slightly higher than if they continue to try naturally.
Nevertheless, with IVF, the possibility of having twins of triplets is increased, which poses a real danger to the health of both mother and children, which is yet another reason for which couples eager to start a family are advised to keep on trying before turning to medicine for help. The risks of IVF have long been known, but doctors want to emphasize, once again, that it should be regarded only as a last solution, when everything else fails.
Instead of becoming artificially pregnant, women should see about other means of increasing their fertility, experts advise, such as reducing stress and losing weight. Only when nature fails to return the expected results should couples resort to IVF, it is further being argued. Dr. Nargund, head of reproductive medicine at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, South London, has even developed a computer program to illustrate that women undergoing IVF have almost the same chances of having a baby as those who go about it naturally – of course, granted their and their partner’s health allow for it.
“We must offer lifestyle advice, early tests and simple approaches to promote natural conception. If a woman is younger and has no serious medical causes of infertility, she should consider improving her fertility naturally. IVF is safe, but what we are saying is you don’t want unnecessary medical treatment far too early.” Dr. Nargund states for the British publication Daily Mail.
Another thing that couples looking to have a baby should take into consideration before choosing IVF when nature still hasn’t said its final word is that the procedure can sometimes be traumatic and is certainly expensive, with costs going up to £15,000 a try. “IVF is unpleasant and stressful and should not be done if there is a reasonable chance of a natural conception.” Professor Bill Ledger, a fertility expert from Sheffield University, also points out for the same publication.