There’s no greater joy for some women than having children. They describe it as a unique and special feeling. But this can be difficult for women whose reproductive systems do not function properly. Fortunately, IVF solutions (in vitro fertilization) are options available to encourage pregnancy.

Records showed IVF birth rates in the United Kingdom in 2019 were three times higher than in 1991. But what are the probabilities of IVF pregnancy and its success rate, especially at the first time?

How Does IVF Treatment Work?

IVF, also referred to as Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART), is a medical technique where sperm fertilize the egg cells outside the body (in vitro, which means “in a glass”). It is commonly used to treat female infertility due to problems with the fallopian tubes and male infertility due to failure of the testicles to produce healthy sperm.

The woman receiving IVF treatment takes hormone drugs to stimulate her ovaries to ripen multiple eggs, then removed from her ovaries. They are placed in sterile fluid in the laboratory for fertilization by sperm. After three days, when the embryos have developed into early-stage (4-8 cells) blastocysts, one or two healthy embryos are chosen (depending on patients wishes after counseling about success rates, etc., if any) and transferred into the woman’s uterus using a fine plastic tube, through the cervix.

The woman should take a pregnancy test to know if it’s successful. If she had her period 12-16 days after the procedure, it would be a failure.

IVF is generally done in cycles on women aged 20-40 years old, although some patients need it later. Patients whose infertility is caused by blocked fallopian tubes rather than problems with egg production may be candidates for tubal surgery first instead of IVF. If you decide to have this procedure, make sure to plan ahead of time and know how much is IVF in UK.

Who Can Have IVF Treatment in the UK?

There are guidelines recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on who should have IVF treatment in the country. These include a policy that IVF must be offered to women under the age of 43 who are trying to get pregnant through regular unprotected sex for two years. It is also for women who have had 12 cycles of artificial insemination, with at least 6 of these cycles utilizing a method called intrauterine insemination. If you’re not eligible for the government-funded IVF treatment, you have to pay for the cost at a private IVF clinic.

What Is The Success Rate of IVF?

In 2019, statistics showed that the success rate of IVF for women under age 35 is 32%. The success rate of other age brackets include:

• 25% for 35 to 37-year-old women
• 19% for 38 to 39-year-old women
• 11% for 40 to 42-year-old women
• 5% for 43 to 44-year-old women
• 4% for 44 and older women

In some cases, the type of treatment influences the success rate of IVF. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a reliable fertility clinic with positive feedback and testimonials from their previous clients. 

Risks of IVF Treatment

IVF is physically and emotionally demanding and doesn’t always end in pregnancy. You should receive counseling to help you cope with the process. In addition, there are also health risks involved, including:

• Side effects from the medicines used during the process, including headaches and hot flashes.
• Multiple births (twins or triplets), which can be harmful for the mother and children.
• Ectopic pregnancy, a condition wherein the embryo implants in the fallopian tubes instead of the womb.
• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) wherein the ovaries overreact to the drugs used during the IVF treatment.