While uncommon, natural conception after IVF can occur. One study found that out of 2,134 couples who attempted ART, about 20% became pregnant on their own after treatment. Many couples that present for fertility care are subfertile, not infertile. what’s the difference?
. Infertility occurs when couples cannot conceive on their own. Either the woman or her partner has a health condition that makes natural conception impossible.
. Subfertility is when couples have a lower chance of conceiving on their own. A variety of conditions can contribute, including mild sperm deficiencies, ovulatory dysfunction, or tubal disease.
Couples with subfertility may go on to have healthy, successful pregnancies. However, some pregnancies result in miscarriage.
Couples can feel rushed to conceive and may visit their doctor early for a fertility evaluation. While certain obvious concerns such as ovulatory dysfunction should be addressed right away, approximately 80% of couples likely will conceive within a year of trying on their own. The best way to optimize natural fertility is to increase how often the couple has intercourse.
However, ART is sometimes necessary to conceive. While the risks of ART are minimal, the emotional toll and costs can be significant.
ART can be expensive, and results depend on the diagnosis and duration of infertility. As you plan for pregnancy, it’s important to consider specific factors that may affect your ability conceive. Let’s discuss these factors, and when to consider visiting a fertility specialist.
If you and your partner are struggling to conceive, you’re not alone. Many conditions can make it difficult to become pregnant. About one-third of infertility cases are associated with a female factor, one-third are associated with a male factor, and the remaining one-third are either unexplained or associated with other causes.
Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have – about 1 million. Research shows that most women will have about 12% of their eggs left at age 30 and 3% at 40. Not only does the pool of available eggs decrease over time, but so does their quality. Diminished egg quality can affect pregnancy and miscarriage rates.
Further, many women are choosing to delay pregnancy. Your Ob/Gyn can assist you with evaluation of your ovarian reserve, and some women consider fertility preservation if they know they want to delay pregnancy.
In men, genetic conditions can cause problems with sperm production and delivery. Health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes can also reduce the likelihood of conception.
In women, the most common disorders are ovulatory dysfunction or tubal disease. However, other conditions such as fibroids, adenomyosis, and endometriosis can have a significant impact as well.
Cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy, or overexposure to certain environmental factors such as alcohol or cigarette smoking can impair fertility in men and women. Prior to attempting conception, your Ob/Gyn can help optimize your general health.
These stories are from women and couples who were surprised to find out they were expecting after initially needing reproductive assistance to conceive.
Christine K. from Baltimore was told she had a 10% chance of getting pregnant naturally with her second child, since she needed IVF for her first due to her husband’s low sperm motility and morphology diagnosis.
“At my initial visit, they told me I was pregnant, through ultrasound,” she shares. “I thought it wasn’t possible. I [was] taking Lupron to start the IVF cycle. I missed my period and my breasts were sore, but I automatically assumed it was side effects from the Lupron.”
Jaclyn D. from Columbus, Ohio went through the wringer to achieve her first pregnancy.
“We tried to conceive for one-plus years by ourselves, then did 13 rounds of double IUIs [intrauterine inseminations]—two inseminations within 48 hours. When those all failed, we did three rounds of IVF.”
She was told that there was a 0% chance of getting pregnant without IVF. They, therefore, had no plan to get pregnant following their daughter’s birth. When her daughter was around two, “I went to both my family physician and my OB/GYN trying to figure out why I was so sick. [I] joked and laughed with both that I couldn’t be pregnant.”
However, one morning, “a smell ‘triggered’ my morning sickness. At that moment, I knew I was pregnant. There was no doubt in my mind.”
Cathy Stefano of Philadelphia shared a similar story. Initially diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), she endured three rounds of ovulation drug Clomid, two cycles of injectables with IUIs and finally IVF. However, after producing a batch of bad eggs and then not responding well to a second IVF cycle, she tried another IUI, which resulted in her daughter.
Stefano’s first pregnancy was tough. “We didn’t discuss a subsequent very often. IVF was totally out of the question. How was I supposed to work and care for [my daughter] on that roller coaster ride?”
However, when Stefano stopped breastfeeding, she noticed she was ovulating, which she never had before because of PCOS. She and her husband decided to take a chance despite just having booked a trip to Las Vegas.
“My daughter was only six months old when I conceived naturally. I had no idea if [getting pregnant would work], but it worth a try. [In the end] I was three months pregnant for the trip to Vegas. Food never tasted so yummy!”
Jenifer Coscia from Westchester County, N.Y. also got pregnant when her first was under a year. She was initially diagnosed with pockets in her tubes, which prevented the egg from traveling to the uterus. IVF helped bypass the tubes entirely, leading to the birth of her son.
“I was told that it was unlikely I would conceive naturally, that there would be a risk of a tubal pregnancy. However, when my son was 5 months old, I was surprised to find out I was pregnant again, naturally.”
When IVF fails, you should not be disheartened. Continue to try after determining the reasons for failure and working on the weak points. Following the guidelines and advice provided by your IVF specialist can greatly assist you in having a healthy pregnancy and giving birth to your child. Also, the miraculous possibility of giving birth to your new child naturally is quite encouraging for you to keep the faith.
Iranian surgery is an online medical tourism platform where you can find the best doctors and fertility specialists in Iran. The price of IVF in Iran can vary according to each individual’s case and will be determined by an in-person assessment with the doctor.
For more information about the cost of IVF in Iran and to schedule an appointment in advance, you can contact Iranian Surgery consultants via WhatsApp number 0098 901 929 0946. This service is completely free.
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