Myths & truths about IVF

According to available published data (2019), over 8 million children have been born worldwide using the method, and now more than 2.5 million IVF cycles are performed each year, resulting in over 500,000 births, annually.

“Although information nowadays is extensive, there are some myths, which often delay or even prevent infertile couples from turning to specialists or lead them to make choices that are not based on real data. Timely and valid information is of critical importance, since the ‘time’ factor plays a decisive role in the successful outcome of the effort.”

Myth #1. With IVF I can easily get pregnant at any age
Truth: IVF is a very effective way of assisting reproduction and treats all infertility problems. However, as a woman ages, the quality of her eggs unfortunately declines. Therefore, for a woman to think that she will have an IVF at 40 and get pregnant easily is wrong. The correct treatment is a woman who wants to have children to complete her family by the age of 35.

Myth #2. If I’m infertile and I relax psychologically, I won’t need IVF
Truth: Most of the time, when there is a reproductive problem, it is due to specific causes, which require medical treatment. Unfortunately, stress plays a very small role in reproduction. Consequently, waiting for a woman to relax in order to get pregnant costs valuable time in dealing with reproductive problems that she and/or her partner may have.

Myth #3. IVF is never successful the first time
Truth: It is now considered that, for women under 35, the probability of success on the first attempt, in good IVF centers, exceeds 60%. Consequently, this is not the case. In addition, these percentages increase in total with the second or, if necessary, with the third attempt.

Myth #4. IVF drugs increase the chances of breast cancer
Truth: It is now proven by hundreds of studies in thousands of women that IVF drugs do not cause breast or ovarian cancer. In addition, it has been shown that the hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy are the ones that increase the possibility of the above malignancies. Strange proof is the fact that women who have had hormone-dependent breast cancer are used almost the same drugs that are used every day for all other women who do IVF.

Myth #5. Egg donation can only be done to menstruating women
Truth: Any woman with a normal uterus, with or without periods, is eligible to accept egg donation or embryo donation. Consequently, the period is not a necessary condition for the implantation of the embryo in the uterus.

Myth #6. Women with polycystic ovaries have infertility
Truth: The majority of women who have polycystic ovaries have a normal period, that is, every 28-35 days. All of these women actually have increased fertility due to having too many follicles in their ovaries. In patients who do not have periods, we have the possibility, in an easy way, to stimulate their ovaries and take eggs. In fact it would not be an exaggeration to say that women who have polycystic ovaries are hyperfertile and not infertile.

Myth #7. I can have as many natural cycles as it takes to get pregnant
Truth: If a woman after several attempts, with a natural cycle or with drugs, does not achieve pregnancy, it is correct to discuss with her doctor the real reasons for the failure and not to continue doing IVF cycles expecting a different result without changing anything. A natural cycle is assumed in women who do not have enough eggs. When this happens, it is very likely that the problem lies with them, that is, with their quality. In many cases the only solution is egg donation.

Myth #8. Embryos are affected by their freezing and lose quality points
Truth: It is now proven that embryos do not deteriorate when frozen. On the contrary, studies have shown, for many years, that the transfer of embryos after their freezing into a uterus that has not been affected by the hormonal stimulation of IVF treatment, has better results.

Myth #9. After the embryo transfer the woman must remain still for 15 days
Truth: This myth has been debunked. Now the embryo transfer is almost always done at the blastocyst stage, i.e. the day the embryo is implanted in the uterus. Consequently, the time during which a woman has to be careful is greatly reduced and there is no need for extreme recommendations, which do not increase the probability of success. Four to five days of attention is usually enough.

Myth #10. With IVF I can control everything about my embryos
Truth: With the pre-implantation diagnosis and the biopsy of the embryos we now have important information regarding the chromosomes or, if necessary, also their genes. However, in no case can we say that with these methods, as later with amniocentesis, we can check a fetus and certify that it is 100% healthy. However, the use of this method is an extremely important tool that increases the probability of success and/or diagnoses important problems of the embryos, which do not allow the success and achievement of pregnancy.

Myth #11. I absolutely have to take a lot of nutritional supplements and medications to get pregnant
Truth: Taking vitamins by the woman does not increase the chance of IVF success. It is now proven that there is no way, naturally or through diet or medication, to improve the quality of a woman’s eggs and increase the success of IVF. Nevertheless, a healthy lifestyle, without smoking and with exercise, is sure to be an excellent basis for the successful outcome of the IVF attempt.

Myth #12. I’d rather have twins with the first one so I don’t have to undergo IVF again
Truth: Although twin pregnancy for many couples seems to be an excellent solution, it is an event that increases the chances of complications during pregnancy, such as prematurity, which is not desirable. When we transfer more than one embryo into a woman’s uterus, we do it to increase the chances of success and not because we are aiming for a twin pregnancy.

Myth #13. The mother’s weight does not play a role in IVF success
Truth: It is now proven that increased body weight has a negative impact on all stages of dealing with infertility, but also during pregnancy. We need more drugs, we have less egg production, less chance of the embryo implanting in the uterus, increased chance of miscarriage and significantly increased chance of complications during pregnancy.

Myth #14. For IVF I have to stay in the hospital for a few days and the whole process takes over a month
Truth: IVF has been greatly simplified as a process. Now, treatments last an average of 10 to 12 days. With modern technology we can monitor women remotely during their induction and come to the IVF center only for egg retrieval and embryo transfer. This greatly reduces the treatment time and visits a woman has to make to her gynecologist. Of course, he doesn’t have to stay in the hospital any day.

Myth #15. All IVF units are equally effective
Truth: Each IVF unit is mainly based on its embryological laboratory and the embryologists who staff it and apply the method. Modern machines for cleaning the air and monitoring the development of the embryos, during the five days until they implant in the uterus, are very expensive, require expensive culture materials and thorough maintenance. As a result, small IVF units are very difficult to cope with these technological and financial demands, which unfortunately has an impact on the quality of the embryos. The fact that an IVF unit is large in terms of buildings does not mean, of course, that all these conditions are met. A couple before deciding to entrust their luck to an IVF center should do serious market research and be fully informed.

Written by:
Haris Hiniadis
Obstetrician gynecologist
Specialist in Assisted Reproduction
IVF Embryogenesis HEALTH unit

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