INFERTILITY

Is IVF necessary?

It is estimated that one in seven couples have difficulty in conceiving. This figure is calculated from those who seek medical help; the true figure is therefore probably higher and is increasing.

Twenty years ago IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) was considered a last resort, a potential miracle for those who otherwise would have no hope of conceiving a baby. Today the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction and infertility treatment has become synonymous with IVF.

In fact for many patients IVF is the wrong treatment.

The average success rate for IVF treatment in the UK is 19.5%. In other words 80% of all IVF treatments fail to produce a baby.

There are also a number of potential problems and health risks associated with IVF for both mother and baby.

For approximately one third of infertile couples the cause is designated as – unexplained, i.e. a standard bank of medical tests does not reveal a factor. When these are examined more carefully, with regard to diet, lifestyle, medications, herbal and nutritional supplements, occupational toxins, allied medical and physiological conditions, many can be both explained and treated. And there are other forms of treatment.

Although we use a holistic approach to infertility we utilize comprehensive laboratory investigations for biochemical and hormonal analysis.