Thanks to modern assisted reproductive technologies (ART), infertility is no longer a sentence but an issue that may have a solution. One of the main methods of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF). Unfortunately, it is surrounded by many myths.
IVF is the only method of infertility treatment
Methods to address infertility depend on root causes. Some cases can be resolved with medication or surgery. If the treatment does not resolve the issue in a year (or six months for women over 35), then in vitro fertilization may be an option.
With the help of IVF, you can choose the sex of your child
In many countries, the selection of embryos based on gender is not done just for the sake of preference but for medical reasons. Such is the case of genetic diseases transmitted through the male or female line. If future parents carry a gender-related mutation, and their offspring have a high risk of inheriting, a healthy embryo can be selected before transplantation through preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). In these cases, choosing a gender may allow the parents to have a healthy child [1].
IVF always leads to the birth of twins or triplets
The method alone does not increase the likelihood of having multiples. What does give a woman a higher chance of having twins, or other multiples, is the amount of embryos transplanted into her uterus (usually one or two). Experts tend to agree that implanting a large number of embryos poses additional risks [2].
They can mix up the embryos, and you will have a child that is not biologically yours
In a professional, certified clinic, doctors operate according to best practices to eliminate any margin for error. After fertilization, the egg is placed in a special incubator to develop for several days. Strict protocols are followed when labeling each culture cup, and embryos from different patients are never in the same place. Later, when transferring an embryo, the medical team checks everything several times.
IVF promotes the development of cancer
Previously, it was thought that drugs used to stimulate ovulation for IVF could increase the risk of certain types of cancer. However, studies have not confirmed this connection, and it is believed that IVF does not lead to breast, endometrial, cervical, or ovarian cancer [3, 4, 5]. It is another matter if a woman has a precancerous disease or a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancers because hormonal stimulation may put her at higher risk. Therefore, before embarking on IVF, a woman should have a comprehensive medical examination. The treatment will be designed based on the results.
IVF can be done at any age
The success of IVF largely depends on the age of the mother; the younger she is, the higher her chances of becoming pregnant with her eggs and having a healthy child. Older women may need to consider using donor eggs to increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy [5].
Children born as a result of IVF have serious health problems and a short life expectancy
Children born through IVF are no different than others. They can enjoy a long and healthy life and are not more likely to suffer from fertility issues. Their intelligence and mental development are not affected by how they were conceived. Research has shown that IVF children learn and develop at the same rate as those who are the product of a typical pregnancy [6, 7].
