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How long does it take to get pregnant with IVF?
Seems like a simple question but the answer is a little complicated and is not going to be the same for everybody.
You have a certain probability for getting pregnant based on a number of factors. You could get pregnant on your first try or you might not get pregnant at all.
A better question to ask them is not how long does it take to get pregnant but rather, “What is the probability of a pregnancy occurring if they have one attempt at embryo transfer?” or “What is the probability of a pregnancy occurring if they have two attempts at embryo transfer?” and so on.
We reached out to Dr. Mohit Saraogi, who works in Saraogi Hospital, which is a renowned IVF clinic in Mumbai. He said that – if your doctor tells you that your chances for a pregnancy with an embryo transfer is 50%. This does not mean that you are guaranteed to be pregnant within 2 tries. In fact, you could have a lot of tries and even with a 50% chance you might not get pregnant.
You could try three times and probability says there is a 1 in 8 chance that your pregnancy test will come up negative all three times.
If you are looking to undergo the procedure in India and you might have a difficulty in deciding which IVF clinic you want to consult. ClinicSpots has compiled a great list of IVF clinics and all the information regarding the doctors that practice, the procedures they perform and most importantly the cost. To know more about the cost of IVF in India, Click Here.
What are the factors that influence your chances for getting pregnant with IVF?
Dr. Saraogi mentioned that there are probably hundreds of factors that can influence your probability for a pregnancy. A few of the major ones are discussed below:
Age:
As women get older, their probability for a successful IVF goes down. Much of this decrease is due to the fact that as women age, they are more likely to produce abnormal embryos that do not have the correct number of chromosomes.
Ovarian reserve:
The above image depicts the average number of eggs women have throughout their lifetime. Women who have poor ovarian reserve do not respond to fertility medications as well, and therefore, produce less eggs. Less eggs means less embryos and therefore less chances to find healthy embryos for an embryo transfer. Compared to other diagnoses, women with poor ovarian reserve have a significantly lower chance for success.
BMI:
BMI or body mass index is important at both extremes. Women with a very high BMI > 30 and those with a very low BMI, say < 20, have lower IVF pregnancy rates.
Smoking:
Women who smoke have a lower chance for IVF success. Some of this is due to the fact that smoking causes ovarian reserve to drop more rapidly. However, smoking also causes other problems. Smokers who quit before their IVF cycle have better pregnancy rates than those that keep smoking.
Some people will get pregnant with IVF right away. Some might take a long time and some may never get pregnant. There are many different variables which will influence how long it takes to get pregnant with IVF but no way to predict exactly how long it will take in your case.
IVF Success Rates for the First Time
Many couples undergoing IVF for the first time are anxious to get the best results. Understandably considering the toll it takes physically, emotionally and financially.
Average IVF success rates are 26.2 percent that means an IVF round fails over 70% of the time. Most couples are willing to do anything safely to optimize their chances of a successful round of IVF.
By following these steps you can optimize your chances of conceiving naturally
- Optimize sperm health because the sperm is pre-washed: Clinicians often ignore the quality of the sperm. Poor quality sperm results in failed IVF and abnormal embryo and is one of the leading causes of infertility. Fortunately, sperm regenerates every 76 to 90 days and can be greatly improved with changes in diet and lifestyle
- Eliminate all alcohol and caffeine: Even one cup of coffee has shown to decrease chances of conceiving by 50%. Eliminate alcohol and caffeine for at least three months prior to your IVF procedure. Your partner must also eliminate alcohol and caffeine. They both harm egg and sperm quality
- Check your vitamin D levels: It is observed that as Vitamin D below 40 nanograms per milliliter have been linked to infertility keep in mind supplementing with vitamin D does not mean that your levels are adequate you must test aim for optimal levels of vitamin D between forty to sixty nanograms per milliliter.
- Check your MTHFR status: Forty percent of the population has this polymorphism which prevents you from absorbing folic acid. Lack of folate at the start of a pregnancy can result in devastating outcomes. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, serious birth defects of the spinal cord and such as spina bifida and the brain such as anencephaly.
- Take supplements: You might need to take supplements with folic acid or methylfolate in case you are one of the forty percent with MTHFR number.
- Have your gene report analyzed: It is necessary to have your gene report analyzed by a functional medicine practitioner that specializes in fertility. This is not the same as the gene karyotype test that IVF clinics routinely check. A gene report is where your cells methylation cycles are analyzed. Methylation cycles and the cells produce energy and detox the cells and recycle b12 folate and homeless cysteine, the body’s most toxic free radical. If these cycles are not functioning properly your fertility will be compromised.
- Avoid gluten and dairy: Gluten has been linked to unexplained infertility, thyroid disorders, autoimmunity, food and tolerances nutrient deficiencies and more. Also, many gluten-free foods can also be quite harmful as they contain ingredients that spike blood sugar.
- Check your thyroid function: You should check your thyroid to verify if your TSH is too high for a healthy pregnancy.
- Support your mitochondrial function: Poor quality mitochondria which are the cellular engines is one reason for poor quality eggs.
- Address nutrient deficiencies, organ imbalances and endocrine imbalances before IVF: This may take three to six months to get proper nutrient supplies and correct all necessary imbalances. With this your egg quality will improve and you will optimize your chances of a successful IVF and a healthy baby.