Chance of getting pregnant naturally is greater after insemination – 06/22/2023 – Equilibrium and Health

The chance of getting pregnant naturally after having an IVF baby is quite high, around one in five — something couples should be aware of, researchers say.

It’s news that can give new hope for family planning, they say, or important information about contraception.

They analyzed data from more than 5,000 women to judge how common this relationship was. The revelations are arithmetic averages, so the chances are different between people.

According to the NHS, the British public health service, the chance of any couple conceiving naturally in the following year, if they have been trying for a few years, is one in four, or less.

But because female fertility declines with age, women over 35 and anyone who already knows they may have fertility problems should see their GP sooner.

Fertility problems can be permanent or come and go and can affect either partner. There are many treatable reasons, but one in four couples may not find a possible cause.

Fertility treatments such as IVF are not always free on the NHS.

A course of IVF treatment can cost up to £5,000 ($10,000) or more.

Shema Tariq, from London, was diagnosed with “low ovarian reserve”, meaning she had fewer eggs left, and said her chances of conceiving without IVF were almost zero.

It took six rounds of IVF to conceive her son, who was born in 2018.

‘Wonderful surprise’

“My doctor briefly mentioned contraception to me after he was born — but we both laughed and agreed it wasn’t relevant,” says Shema.

“It never occurred to me that I could get pregnant, despite being a doctor specializing in sexual health. I was 43 years old and was told my chances of getting pregnant naturally were less than 1%. Eight months later, I was unexpectedly and naturally pregnant with our daughter,” she says.

“She was the most wonderful surprise — but when we found out, I felt overwhelmed and unprepared for another pregnancy.

“If I had known that one in five women become pregnant naturally after IVF, I would have used contraceptives until I was ready again, both emotionally and physically.”

Lead author of the new research, published in the journal Human Reproduction, Annette Thwaites of University College London, said: “Our findings suggest that natural pregnancy after having a baby via IVF is far from rare.

“This contrasts with the widely held views — by women and health professionals — and those commonly expressed by the press that this is a highly unlikely event.”

The 11 international studies the team analyzed found that at least one in five women conceived naturally after having a baby using fertility treatment, mostly within three years. And this applies to different types and outcomes of fertility treatment.

Clinical embryologist Marta Jansa Perez, from the British Fertility Society, said: “This study highlights the importance of providing patients with accurate information about their chances of conception at any point in time, particularly after delivering an IVF baby.

“It is good news that such a high proportion of patients are able to conceive naturally after IVF. But people should be aware that in cases where a woman’s age is a factor in initial failure to conceive or there is severe male infertility, it would be wise to seek treatment for a second child sooner rather than later.”