Which fertility treatment is the most effective?
- January 4, 2023
- 7:34 pm
If you’re considering fertility treatment, you may be wondering, “Which treatment would give me the best chances of getting pregnant?”
Overall, the success rate of fertility treatment is about 50%, which means that half of all couples who seek treatment end up getting pregnant[1]. However, the success of treatment varies from person to person, so you and your doctor will need to consider your personal and medical circumstances to decide on the best treatment for you.
What factors affect treatment success?
Your age: Fertility treatments are less likely to lead to pregnancy for older couples, than younger ones. This is mainly because of lower sperm motility in men as they age, and the lower number of viable oocytes (that mature into eggs) in the ovaries of older women[2].
Your overall health: Research has consistently shown that healthy BMIs and diets consisting of wholegrains, unsaturated oils, vegetables, fruit and fish, are associated with improved fertility in women and higher semen quality in men[3]. On the other hand, a wide variety of chronic illnesses can impact ovulation and sperm production, making it harder to conceive[4].
Your history of pregnancy: Your past reproductive experience can impact your probability for success with fertility treatments. For example, previous losses can decrease the likelihood of success, but the chances of getting pregnant increases if your last pregnancy was successful[5].
The cause of your infertility: Depending on the cause of your infertility, your doctor can recommend a variety of treatment options that may include medications, surgery, or usage of assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and more.
Depending on your needs and your circumstances, your chances of success can be heightened with your choice of treatment. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most effective fertility treatments available to you.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI is a procedure that involves placing sperm from a male partner into a woman’s body during ovulation. IUI involves using a thin catheter to place sperm directly into the uterus.
This treatment is suitable for couples dealing with low sperm counts or low sperm motility. IUI, in particular, has proved to be very effective for women with ovulatory dysfunction of unexplained infertility[6].
It is an effective treatment, especially when coupled with fertility drugs, with success rates up to 17.6% for women under the age of 30[7]. Like IVF, the success rates of IUI decreases with older women, falling to slightly above 13% for women aged 31-38[8].
In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is a treatment that involves the fertilization of eggs by sperm in a laboratory and the transfer of one or more embryos into the uterus. IVF has the highest success rates among all the available fertility treatments, and some research has shown that the chances of success continue to increase with more cycles[1]. However, the success rate is greatly dependent on the woman’s age, falling to 26%-40% for women ages 35-40.
Although IVF can be costly, it is considered to be the gold standard of fertility treatments and is suitable for couples who have not found success with other treatments, or those who need to screen embryos for genetic disorders. It is also frequently recommended for those dealing with severe causes of infertility including fallopian tube blockages, diminished ovarian reserve, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis or insurmountable sperm deficiencies.
Fertility Drugs
While fertility drugs are usually taken in conjunction with another treatment (such as IVF) to boost chances of success, they can also be taken on their own for milder ovulation issues. However, they should only be taken when prescribed by a doctor.
When choosing a treatment plan, it’s important to listen to your body, acknowledge its current state while also understanding your needs. Don’t be discouraged if you’re 35 or older. Read this article for more information on ways for you to maximize your chances for success
References
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), 2018 Assisted Reproductive Technology, Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report. cdc.gov/art/pdf/2018-report/ART-2018-Clinic-Report-Full.pdf US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2020.
[2] Harris I.D., Fronczak, C., Roth, l., & Meacham, R.B. (2011), Fertility and the Aging Male, Rev Urol 13(4), e184-e190,
[3] Gaskins AJ, & Chavarro J.E. (2018) Diet and fertility: a review. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 218, 379–89
[4] Mann, U., Shiff, B., & Patel, P. (2020). Reasons for worldwide decline in male fertility. Current opinion in urology, 30(3), 296-301.
[5] Whitley, E., Doyle, P., Roman, E., & De Stavola, B. (1999) The effect of reproductive history on future pregnancy outcomes, Human Reproduction, 14(11), 2863–2867,
[6] Starosta, A., Gordon, C.E. & Hornstein, M.D (2020). Predictive factors for intrauterine insemination outcomes: a review. Fertil Res and Pract 6(23).
[7] Merviel, P., Heraud, M.H., Grenier, N., Lourdel, E., Sanguinet, P., Copin, H. (2010) Predictive factors for pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI): An analysis of 1038 cycles and a review of the literature. Fertil Steril. 93(1), 79-88.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Belloc, S., Cohen-Bacrie, P., Benkhalifa, M., Cohen-Bacrie, M., De Mouzon, J., Hazout, A., & Ménézo, Y. (2008) Effect of maternal and paternal age on pregnancy and miscarriage rates after intrauterine insemination. Reprod Biomed Online, 17(3), 392-7.; Smith, A.D.A.C., Tilling, K., Nelson, S.M., Lawlor, D.A. (2015) Live-birth rate associated with repeat in vitro fertilization treatment cycles. JAMA. 314(24), 2654-2662.
SG-NONF-00251 | January 4, 2023
