Almost 50 years have passed since the birth of the first test tube baby. Since then, about eight million children have been born thanks to assisted reproductive technologies. But in society, IVF is still sometimes perceived as something harmful, unnatural and even dangerous. We asked a reproductive specialist to dispel common myths about IVF.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method of treating infertility in which conception occurs literally “outside the body,” in a laboratory. An egg is taken from a woman and sperm from a man. The embryo is then cultured and transferred to the uterine cavity of the expectant mother. IVF is indicated for infertility for various reasons : due to the absence of fallopian tubes, due to genetic abnormalities, and more.
Myth #1: IVF causes cancer
Most likely, this statement is based on the sad stories of stars who got pregnant through IVF and soon after received an oncodiagnosis: Zhanna Friske, Anastasia Zavorotnyuk and others. But all these cases can be united by the principle “after does not mean because of”.
The fact is that many diseases that lead to infertility are a priori associated with an increased oncological risk. For example, endometriosis can increase the likelihood of uterine cancer , and anovulation – ovarian cancer. In addition, pregnancy itself can cause unpredictable changes in the body, and it does not matter how the conception took place. There is evidence that women who gave birth to their first child after 30 have an increased risk of breast cancer compared to childless peers.
But reproductive technologies have absolutely nothing to do with it: there is not a single study that would prove a connection between cancer and IVF. But there are scientific works that demonstrate the opposite. Thus, undergoing six or more stimulation cycles does not affect the risk of breast cancer. Another study showed that 87,000 patients of Israeli reproductive clinics had no risk of developing oncology after IVF.
Myth #2: “ECO” children are different
Some are sure that test tube babies grow up to be child prodigies, others – that they are constantly ill, others – that such children are not even quite human. There is nothing in common with reality here. “IVF” boys and girls are no different from their peers. And this is easy to explain. In the laboratory, specialists do exactly the same thing that happens during natural conception – they fertilize the egg with a sperm. And after the embryo is transferred, the pregnancy develops in a completely normal way.
A large study two years ago showed that there is only one difference: children conceived in a laboratory weigh 200-300 grams less at birth. But this difference completely disappears by adolescence. There is also data that “IVF” babies are 1-2% more likely to have developmental defects. But the reason is not the method of fertilization, but the age of the parents. After all, couples 35+ usually turn to assisted reproductive technologies.
Another misconception is that children born as a result of IVF, when they grow up, will also not be able to conceive a child themselves. Here we can recall that Louise Brown, the world’s first “test tube baby”, got pregnant on her own without any problems in one attempt.
Myth #3: IVF drugs are destructive to health
We are talking about the supposedly “terrible” hormones that stimulate the ovaries. Here’s how it works: in each menstrual cycle, a woman only has one egg, but this is not enough for successful IVF. You need to get 10-15 eggs – this will allow you to make several attempts, because not all the cells are of good quality. To achieve this, the patient is prescribed hormonal drugs – they cause superovulation. They must be taken independently and at the same time lead a normal lifestyle. Modern drugs do not have any side effects – perhaps only slight swelling and increased appetite. But all this disappears without a trace after the course is over.
Scientists have not found a connection between ovarian stimulation and an increased risk of endocrine and other disorders in women. The drugs work for a short period of time and then completely disappear from the body and do not disturb the hormonal balance in any way. And by the way, hormonal balance is a very dubious concept. In women, it changes almost every day for a month.
Myth #4: IVF always results in twins
There is some truth to this – at least there was 20 years ago. The thing is that at the dawn of IVF technology was imperfect, and doctors would transfer two embryos (or even more!) into the uterine cavity, hoping that at least one would take root. Of course, often all of them would take root. But today, when medicine has made great strides, we have no need to expose patients to risk. After all, multiple pregnancies are not only a great blessing, but also a risk of premature birth, cardiovascular complications, and more.
According to modern standards, doctors select the healthiest and most viable embryo and use it for transfer. Of course, if the couple wishes, two can be transferred – but all the pros and cons must be carefully weighed.
Myth #5: IVF allows you to create children “on order”
“Designer babies” are a popular plot of science fiction, but they have nothing to do with real life. PGT (preimplantation genetic diagnostics) is often used for IVF: several cells are taken from the resulting embryos for analysis, and then tested for the presence of various diseases and mutations. This procedure is indicated for “adult” couples, couples with genetic disorders, and not only. After all, with the help of PGT, it is possible to determine which embryo is the healthiest and best suited for transfer. And thus relieve patients who have already suffered in the fight against infertility, from the prospect of an unsuccessful pregnancy.
But it is impossible to program the color of the eyes, hair, height of the future child, etc. using IVF. Moreover, according to Russian laws, it is also impossible to choose the sex of the baby. This is allowed only for strict medical reasons, for example, if some mutations are inherited in the couple on the female or male line.
Myth #6: If you do IVF once, you will have to do it again
Every sixth person in the world faces infertility , and its causes are not always determined. Of course, if a woman does not have fallopian tubes, she will always have to resort to IVF to get pregnant. But every fifth patient after the first “test tube conception” gets pregnant on her own . The reason may be in the quality of treatment or in the fact that after the first birth the mother feels more confident, the stress level decreases. Yes, this is very important for conception!
Myth #7: IVF is a last resort
Unfortunately, many couples who are unable to conceive a child put off visiting a fertility specialist until the last minute: they try “grandmother’s” methods and alternative medicine, or simply wait for years. But time is the main risk factor when it comes to fertility.
After 35 years, women’s chances of natural pregnancy decrease, and by 40 years the probability of success is only 5-7%. Therefore, a consultation with a good doctor is necessary after six months of trying, if you are 30 years old or older. There is no need to be afraid of this: modern medicine really does work miracles and gives the joy of parenthood even in cases that were recently considered hopeless.