The Truth Behind Fertility Treatments
By Siti Salihah
In the first part of this series, we explored common misconceptions about IVF, from success rates to age-related fertility challenges. Now, we’re back to debunk more myths with Dr. Raymond, a fertility specialist with extensive experience in assisted reproductive technology. With his expertise, we’ll uncover the truth about complementary medicine, fertility diets, egg freezing, and more—providing a clearer picture of what IVF truly involves..
#8 Complementary medicine like TCM can improve IVF success rates.
Dr. Raymond: There is some evidence suggesting that acupuncture may improve IVF success rates, but not the herbal medicine typically used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Acupuncture has been shown to help increase the chances of conception through IVF, although the evidence is not entirely conclusive.
As for other forms of complementary medicine, it’s difficult to provide a definitive answer because no comprehensive studies or audits have been done to assess their effectiveness. One issue with TCM is that practitioners tend to work individually, and there is a lack of standardised data collection across the field. Furthermore, each TCM practitioner may have their own approach, making it hard to compare results.
Without studies comparing TCM to Western medicine, I can’t say with certainty how effective TCM treatments are. From my experience, I can say that TCM practices may not always align well with the medications used in IVF, especially those meant to stimulate follicle growth.
#9 Fertility-boosting diets can replace medical treatments.
Dr. Raymond: No, fertility-boosting diets cannot replace medical treatments. While a healthy diet can certainly help improve the success of IVF treatment, on its own, it won’t significantly alter the chances of success. A balanced diet is important for both men and women, as it can enhance the effectiveness of IVF treatment. However, it should always be viewed as a complementary factor alongside medical interventions, not a replacement.
#10 Freezing your eggs, no matter at what age, guarantees a successful pregnancy later in life.
Dr. Raymond: False. As a woman ages, the quality of her eggs significantly declines, so freezing eggs later in life may not improve fertility. However, if you freeze eggs at a younger age, it does improve your chances of conception later on, although there’s still no guarantee of success.
So, if you freeze your eggs at 24 or 25 and decide to start IVF at the age of 40, how does that affect your chances?
That’s generally fine, and your chances of success are likely to be high, as you’d be using eggs that were frozen at a younger age, which are of better quality. However, from an obstetrics perspective, pregnancy at an older age comes with certain risks, including:
- A higher risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy,
- Increased risk of hypertension or conditions like preeclampsia,
- A higher chance of delivering a smaller-than-average baby,
- A greater risk of stillbirth, even with a full-term pregnancy, as the condition of the uterus can be affected by age,
- A higher likelihood of requiring an operative delivery.
- A higher risk of developing cardiovascular issues, such as heart disease, later in life.
What won’t change, however, is the rate of miscarriage, as the eggs used would still be from a younger age, which reduces the risk. But stillbirth remains a potential concern.
#11 Women over 40 cannot get pregnant even with fertility treatments.
Dr. Raymond: It’s possible for women over 40 to get pregnant with fertility treatments, but the chances of success are much lower—typically less than 8% for those aged 42 and above when undergoing IVF.
Would you still recommend IVF for a couple in this situation?
I would certainly do my best to help them conceive, but I would also make it clear that the chances of success are not high. However, I would never say “never” because, occasionally, things do work out. Technically, pregnancy is still possible, but I would want them to understand the potential risks involved, as I mentioned earlier.
#12 IVF babies are less healthy than naturally conceived babies.
Dr. Raymond: False. IVF babies are just as healthy as babies conceived naturally. There’s no evidence to suggest that IVF babies are inferior to those conceived through spontaneous conception. However, in cases of Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)—where the embryo is frozen and then thawed before being implanted—there is a very, very small risk (less than 0.5%) of a condition like Prader-Willi syndrome, which is a genetic disorder. But overall, IVF babies do not differ in health from naturally conceived babies.
#13 IVF is an option only for couples having difficulties conceiving.
Dr. Raymond: It’s false to say that IVF is only for couples facing difficulties conceiving. IVF can also be used by couples with inheritable diseases who want to prevent passing those conditions onto their offspring. Additionally, IVF can be employed to create genetically compatible siblings for children in need of an organ transplant. This practice is common in the UK and is one of the reasons why PGT was developed. It is both ethically and legally accepted in the UK for such cases. The reason it’s so effective is that using a sibling as an organ donor significantly reduces the risk of organ rejection.
As long as the IVF baby is healthy and develops normally, this approach is entirely legitimate.
In terms of organ donations, common examples include kidney, lung, and liver donations. Kidney and lung donations are particularly common.
Would you say that when the IVF child grows up, they might feel differently towards their family because of how they were brought into the world, or how they came into existence?
There might be a stigma attached to it, but it depends on the parents’ education and treatment of the IVF child.
#14 Long-term use of birth control affects fertility.
Dr. Raymond: False. Birth control pills primarily prevent ovulation. Without ovulation, the woman retains a number of eggs, as ovulation is what typically causes the release and potential loss of eggs during each cycle—around 20 to 40 eggs on average. Since birth control prevents ovulation, this natural egg loss doesn’t occur. However, it’s important to note that while birth control doesn’t affect the number of eggs, the quality of eggs still declines with age at the same rate.
#15 A weak pelvic floor after childbirth is permanent.
Dr. Raymond: Yes. After a normal delivery, a weakened pelvic floor can be a concern. However, it can be prevented and managed through Kegel exercises. These exercises are a preventative measure and are recommended for women to start doing even after childbirth to strengthen the pelvic floor.
So, now we know that while freezing our eggs at a younger age can improve future chances of conception, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a pregnancy! And it turns out that women over 40 can still conceive with IVF—though the chances are lower—and despite common fears, IVF babies are just as healthy as naturally conceived ones. And very importantly, contrary to popular belief, birth control doesn’t harm fertility at all; in fact, it helps store eggs a little longer (with some cons, of course).
With so many myths surrounding fertility, it’s easy to feel lost. But thanks to Dr. Raymond, we now have a clearer picture of what IVF truly involves—helping hopeful parents make informed decisions on their journey to parenthood.
