If you’re researching IVF treatment or private IVF clinics in Cheshire and Manchester, do you know your IVF facts from fiction? Here are some of the most common misconceptions surrounding IVF:
IVF treatment only really works if you are young...
IVF success rates are higher in younger women because their egg quality is generally better; egg quality declines are you age. But this doesn’t mean that IVF won’t work for you. We have consistent success rates for women aged over 35, and help a lot of older women have their children through IVF. Your thorough personal assessment will help us decide the best course of treatment for you, this includes examining your ovarian reserve. However, we do not recommend IVF if you are aged 44 or over, simply because the likelihood of success from IVF will be so low.
IVF puts your body into early menopause...
A common myth but this is not true. The drugs needed for IVF effectively stop your own egg production through prevention of your own follicle-stimulating hormones. This can mimic the symptoms you get when you start the menopause, but your body is not going through menopause.
If IVF has failed there’s no point trying again...
If you’ve had previous failed cycles, it doesn’t mean that IVF shouldn’t be attempted again. What is important is that the failed cycle is thoroughly reviewed by your consultant, to identify the cause of the failure. Such as the embryo failing to implant, despite being of good quality. At Manchester Fertility any failed cycles are assessed in detail so we can examine whether a different protocol is needed, or treatment changes, for any future treatment. We do not recommend a treatment unless we believe it has a good chance of being successful for you.
IVF is really expensive...
Private infertility and IVF treatment costs can vary hugely from clinic to clinic, it’s always essential to get a through and detailed explanation of how much your treatment will cost and what is and isn’t included. There are ways to reduce the cost of private IVF treatment. You can apply for local NHS treatment if you are eligible under your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) guidelines, and then you can request that any funding for your NHS cycle is diverted to us here at Manchester Fertility. Some CCGs will consider this and we’ve welcomed many patients who have successfully transferred their NHS funding to us. Or, if you are aged between 18 and 35 and in good health, you may wish to consider donating your eggs. This is called egg-sharing and as a Manchester Fertility egg-sharer you donate half of your eggs, and in return receive a subsidised cycle of IVF with us for £870 inclusive of all necessary screening tests and drugs.
The success or failure of my IVF treatment is out of my hands...
Whilst there are certain aspects of your IVF cycle that you cannot influence, there are many factors you can, which may affect outcome. These include your weight, and lifestyle. Alcohol intake, smoking and obesity all affect fertility in both men and women. It’s why we always encourage you, if you have a high BMI or drink or smoke regularly, to become as healthy as you can be before you even think about embarking upon IVF treatment.
For more details about how we can help you have your family, please contact our Patient Advisors on 0161 300 2737.
Last updated: 20th January 2020
