November 21, 2016.
Conceiving a child medically can be a source of disillusionment for couples. A team of Scottish researchers has just developed two tests that allow aspiring parents to know their chances of successful IVF.
A test to define your chances of conceiving naturally
Each year, couples who have difficulty conceiving a child naturally enter into medically assisted procreation (AMP). According to the Biomedicine Agency, more than 140,000 ART attempts were recorded in 2013. Each time, this process is difficult for couples as the result of these attempts is uncertain and the false hopes are numerous. To enlighten them and give them a clearer picture of the potential outcome of such an experiment, researchers at the Scottish University of Aberdeen have developed tests that can be performed online.
A first test allows future parents to define their chances of conceiving a child, naturally, before attempting AMP. To quantify these chances, couples are invited to provide various information including the woman’s age, the number of months or years spent trying to conceive, any infertility problems in men and women. etc.
Results not 100% reliable
The second test allows couples to determine their chances of conceiving after having already tried in vitro fertilization several times. The questions asked to couples are then more precise and invite them to provide information on the number of oocytes already punctured, the number of embryos transferred, the freezing of the embryos, etc.. At the end of this questionnaire, the couples obtain a percentage which allows them to imagine the result of a next attempt.
To achieve these two tests, the Scottish scientists used data from the British reproductive medicine services between 1999 and 2008. If they offer indications to couples, they are not 100% reliable and must be clarified by a specialist.
To find out more: The success of in vitro fertilization (IVF)