How many times should you try in vitro fertilization (IVF)? According to a new study, do so until sixth time.
A new British study that looks into the success rate of IVF revealed that women who want to get pregnant should never give up at least until the sixth cycle. In fact, it suggested that the success can still be achieved up to the ninth cycle, although the percentage would already be lower.
This seems to partly disagree with the common recommendation of fertility specialists who tend to end the treatment up to the fourth cycle, thinking that the succeeding attempts would still not work.
IVF is a term used for a variety of assistive reproductive techniques. A cycle begins with the stimulation of ovulation on women, which can be accomplished through medication, up to the transfer of the fertilized egg into the woman's womb, where it's expected to become an embryo.
The research was based on the IVF information of more than 150,000 women. According to the data, the success rate of the first cycle could be as high as 29.5%. However, once it got past the fourth attempt, it could increase to more than 60% during the sixth cycle.
Note, though, that the study also implied that age could have an effect on the level of success in terms of live birth as the rate was higher among women who are under 40. Meanwhile, older women between the ages of 40 and 42 can have at least 31% live birth rate upon the sixth cycle. Those who were over 42 had a much lower live birth rate, particularly on the sixth cycle.
While IVF may work after many attempts, the researchers also understand that the process itself is not only costly but also tedious, emotionally stressful, and even depressing for women and couples. Several cycles therefore may turn out to be impractical to some couples and women.
The study is now in Journal of the American Medical Association.