IVF is a popular fertility treatment for anyone who is struggling to conceive naturally, with a study on Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand showing that there were 81,049 IVF cycles started in Australia in 2019.
If you’re new to this treatment and have started to think about your own IVF journey, you’ve probably been busy researching the ins and outs of treatment online, but be careful. There’s a lot of misinformation that could lead you down the wrong path.
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is used to treat several fertility issues. During IVF treatment a sperm and an egg are joined together outside the body in a laboratory. Once the egg is fertilised, the embryo is allowed to grow in a monitored environment, then transferred to the uterus to hopefully result in pregnancy.
At Grace Private we understand that your IVF journey will have its challenges, but it doesn’t need to be made more difficult with misinformation that can be confusing and sometimes even distressing. To help you sift through what’s true and false, here are four common misconceptions about IVF explained.
MISCONCEPTION #1: IVF treatment always results in multiple pregnancies
In the past doctors would transfer multiple embryos, hoping to increase the chance of pregnancy. This however also increased the mother’s chance of having twins or triplets.
Thanks to improvements in technology, multiple pregnancies are much less likely. It’s more common to transfer one embryo at a time, while freezing others to use for later treatment if it’s needed.
MISCONCEPTION #2: IVF treatment is suitable for everyone
Some of the most common reasons to undergo IVF treatment include:
But not everyone is a suitable candidate for IVF treatment. There are several conditions that influence the success rate of IVF, including ovarian dysfunction, abnormal hormone levels, uterine abnormalities, severe obesity and fibroid tumours.
We recommend consulting your fertility specialist for more information. Here at Grace Private our fertility specialists Tina Fleming and Tania Widmer will send you for a variety of tests to assess your suitability and your condition, including:
MISCONCEPTION #3: There’s no Medicare rebate – you cover all the costs
When researching IVF you may come across misinformation around the cost of IVF and Medicare Rebates, which could have you second guessing your choice to start treatment.
In Australia you don’t have to cover the entire cost of IVF treatment. Medicare and private healthcare (depending on your plan) will subsidise part of the expense of IVF treatment. While it’s different for everyone, for the average initial IVF cycle there is about a $5,000 out of pocket expense. We recommend speaking with your fertility specialist to find out the exact cost.
MISCONCEPTION #4: IVF treatment is the only option for infertility issues
For anyone struggling to conceive, IVF is often the go-to option, so it can be distressing if for some reason it’s not an option for you.
There are several other fertility options available including cycle tracking, IntraUterine Insemination (IUI) and Ovulation Induction (OI). Speak with your Grace fertility specialist for more specific information.
IVF Treatment with Grace Private
The specialist team at Grace Private will help you debunk any myths and provide you with the most up-to-date information about IVF treatment. We’ll make sure you embark on this journey with the right information and a deep understanding of what is involved.
To start your fertility treatment on the Gold Coast, the first step is to ask your GP for a referral. Book an appointment with Grace Private and one of our experienced fertility specialists will talk to you about how Grace can help you achieve your dream of having a baby.
