With the permission of the biological parents, unused embryos can be donated for research purposes, or to another couple to enable them to have a child. Embryos can be used to screen for inherited diseases.
Both of these techniques are available at our clinics. An IVF cycle may be unsuccessful. The success of IVF is not guaranteed , and patients often have to undergo more than one cycle of treatment before they are successful. This naturally varies woman to woman, and a fertility specialist will be able to give a more accurate and personalised likelihood of success. It is important to be realistic but positive about the chances of success.
There may be associated side effects and risks. As a medical treatment, IVF comes with a small chance of developing side effects, the most severe of these being severe ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome OHSS. Fortunately, the use of fewer or no drugs in natural and mild IVF cycles means that the already small likelihood of developing unwanted risk of OHSS is dramatically decreased or eliminated.
Multiple pregnancy. Multiple pregnancies do carry associated health risks to mother and baby: there is an increased chance of premature labour, miscarriage, need for caesarean, stillbirth and infant health problems with multiple pregnancies. It is important for all fertility clinics to have robust single embryo transfer policies, to avoid the risks of multiple pregnancy.
There is a slightly higher chance of ectopic pregnancy. There is evidence that high oestrogen levels associated with high stimulation IVF can increase the risk of prematurity and low birth weight in babies. There is growing evidence that giving high stimulation during IVF increases the chance that a baby is born prematurely and with lower birth weight.
This has been linked to long-term health problems for the child. It is theorised that high oestrogen levels can affect the intra-uterine environment.
With drug-free and low drug approaches, it has been observed that babies born are more likely to be born at full term and with a higher birth weight than those born through high stimulation IVF associated with high oestrogen levels. This is one of the reasons why we are committed to Natural and Mild IVF, as we believe that the success of treatment is not just a live birth, but is a healthy full term live birth. Going through IVF treatment can be a highly emotive and stressful experience.
For patients undergoing treatment, it can be physically and emotionally demanding. For partners it can be difficult to watch a loved-one go through a stressful experience.
Artificial Insemination by Donor AID and surrogacy requiring donor Donating an egg or sperm or acting as a surrogate introduces a third and sometimes fourth person into a relationship and this is wrong.
Some people may think of this as adultery. The child that is born may experience distress and confusion about its true identity. Not enough is yet known about these effects and how they may be resolved. Reproductive cloning Reproductive cloning could undermine the uniqueness of each human being and devalue the importance of being human.
In the process of getting the science right, many embryos and clones would be damaged and killed. Therapeutic cloning Therapeutic cloning devalues the importance and value of human life. This is too high a price, regardless of the medical knowledge that might be discovered. The cost may be a reason why you don't want to pursue fertility treatments, and that cost doesn't necessarily mean you don't have the money. You may decide to continue trying to conceive on your own, even if your odds of success are very small.
This is certainly an option and is not the same as ignoring your infertility and pretending it will resolve on its own. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor before you make this decision. Some causes of infertility can be a threat to your overall health. Fertility treatments are generally safe, but they do come with risks. Even Clomid has risks and side effects , though they are relatively low risk compared to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF.
Risks and side effects of fertility drugs can range from nuisance effects to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Fertility treatment can be extremely stressful , and stressors range from the emotional drain of waiting to see if you are pregnant, to the routine that must be meticulously followed, to the "hormones from hell" as some of the medications are popularly described. You may decide that you don't want that stress in your life.
There is support out there, including options such as fertility therapists , support groups , and mind-body programs. But support doesn't eliminate all the stress; it just makes it more tolerable. Studies done in Scotland as well as in the United States have cited psychological reasons as being very significant in decisions to not undergo fertility treatments. In fact, in Sweden and the Netherlands where fertility treatments are subsidized by the government, between half and two-thirds of people choose not to pursue the full extent of options available.
Of note, however, is that depression has also been found as an occasional reason for not pursuing infertility treatment. There are many different infertility treatment options available, and you may decide you will try some, but not all. For example:. You don't have to have a "good reason" not to pursue these treatments.
Sometimes, something just doesn't feel right to you and your partner. That is OK. Some people have religious or ethical objections to fertility treatments. You may be uncomfortable with the idea of conception happening in a lab or concerned about the creation of "extra" embryos.
You may be hesitant about using donor eggs or sperm or using a surrogate. Always speak to your doctor about your concerns first, as there may be options that don't go outside your comfort zone. If not, it's OK to say no, but thanks. As an important side note, some people in the infertility community can be fiercely defensive regarding the ethics of fertility treatments. They are passionate not only because they believe treatments are ethically acceptable, but also because some political groups have made it their mission to make certain treatments illegal or unavailable.
Try not to confuse their passion — which is rooted in a desire to protect their own and others' right to choose — as a personal attack on your decision not to pursue treatments for religious or ethical reasons.
You may decide that if you can't conceive on your own, you'd like to go straight to adoption and forgo treatments. You may have always wanted to adopt. Or it may be something you decided to do only after your infertility diagnosis. Just be sure to work with a counselor to help deal with the grief of infertility before you begin the adoption process. It is just another way to build a family. You may choose not to pursue treatments and, instead, live a child-free life.
The term "child-free" is a bit of a misnomer. You can still be a big part of a child's life. You may work with children in your job or as a volunteer, or you may be a very involved auntie or uncle. You just may choose not to have kids of your own — not through treatments or adoption. Of course, deciding not to pursue treatments doesn't magically take away the pain and grief of infertility. It will be important, even if you strongly wish to be childfree, to grieve what could possibly have been.
There isn't a set amount of time for this grieving, and everyone grieves in different ways. Be kind to yourself and pamper yourself while you are healing. A good counselor can help you work through your options, and help you cope with the emotional aftermath of those choices. Whether you decide to pursue pregnancy or feel convicted that pursuing these treatments is not for you and your partner, infertility carries a tremendous emotional impact.
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