Chances of Miscarriage after IVF Treatment
Conceiving a child naturally is not always as easy as most couples imagine it will be. In fact, roughly one-third of couples are unable to conceive naturally after trying for a year or more. Fortunately, by determining the cause of infertility and offering appropriate fertility treatment, our fertility specialists are able to help many of these couples conceive. One of the most popular and successful treatments offered at the Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, PC is IVF, which is a multi-step treatment that monitors and assists in the stages of conception. While IVF has proven to be very successful in helping women become pregnant, for some of our Omaha patients, IVF and miscarriage are a concern. Unfortunately, miscarriage is a possibility after a woman has become pregnant through IVF treatment. Here we discuss the risk of miscarriage after IVF and what can be done to reduce the risk of miscarriage after IVF.
Risk of Miscarriage after IVF
A miscarriage is a devastating experience for couples to go through, perhaps even more so if they have dealt with the frustration of infertility, followed by the joy of successful fertility treatment, only to be followed by the heartbreak of miscarriage. Miscarriage can occur for a number of reasons and is often unexplainable. In those who have conceived naturally, approximately one in six pregnancies will end in a miscarriage before the 20th week of pregnancy. Statistics show that these numbers are the same in couples who have conceived through IVF, although the rate is higher in older couples. Although miscarriages are a sad and frightening experience, the good news is that most couples who suffer a miscarriage are able to go on to have a successful IVF treatment that results in the birth of a healthy baby.
Reducing Risk of Miscarriage after IVF
In many cases of miscarriage, the cause of the loss is not determined. However, in the case where a couple has experienced a series of miscarriages, tests may be done to determine the cause of miscarriage so that all possible precautions can be taken to help reduce the risk of a future miscarriage. Whether tests have determined the cause of a miscarriage or not, there are steps that can be taken to help maximize the chances of a healthy pregnancy after IVF treatment. While none of the following are guarantees against a miscarriage, they can promote overall health throughout IVF treatment and pregnancy:
- Have your blood, thyroid, and cervix tested/examined before the start of IVF treatment
- Get in good physical shape before IVF treatment and maintain a healthy, nutritious diet throughout pregnancy
- Use provided fertility medication exactly as prescribed
- Consider using donor eggs if you are over the age of 42
Schedule an Appointment
At the Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, PC, we can address a wide range of fertility problems to help patients conceive. If you have been unsuccessful at conceiving naturally and would like to learn more about our fertility treatments, we invite you to schedule an appointment with one of our fertility specialists at your earliest convenience. We look forward to hearing from you!
