It's true that there is some research showing that pregnancies conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) carry a slightly increased risk of miscarriage, compared with spontaneous (natural) pregnancies. 1 The exact level of the increased risk varies by study.
One of the most common reasons why IVF is unsuccessful, or why miscarriages occur, is because of chromosomal variations in the embryo. Up to 70% of embryos, whether created naturally or through IVF, are lost before birth. This usually occurs within the first three months of pregnancy, most often before implantation.
IVF increases chance of birth complications
Babies born through IVF have a slightly higher chance of birth defects (about 1-2%).
Newly pregnant patients often wonder whether having undergone IVF puts them at an increased risk of having a miscarriage. The answer is no. IVF does not contribute to miscarriages.
Complex biologic processes do not work perfectly all of the time, including human reproduction. A recent re-analysis has concluded that pre-implantation embryo loss is approximately 10–40% and that total loss from fertilisation to birth is approximately 40–60% 4.
According to one study, once a pregnancy gets past 6/7 weeks and has a heartbeat, the risk of having a miscarriage drops to around 10%.
The heartbeat can be seen as early as five weeks and six days. In natural pregnancies, at around seven weeks the placenta will make all the progesterone needed for a woman to stay pregnant. Even if you removed the ovaries and stopped all progesterone, the women won't have an increased risk of miscarriage!
The risk of miscarriage drops significantly as pregnancy progresses. In one study, researchers found a miscarriage rate of 9.4 percent at 6 weeks of pregnancy, 4.2 percent at 7 weeks, 1.5 percent at 8 weeks, 0.5 percent at 9 weeks and 0.7 percent at 10 weeks.
If you have IVF, you have a slightly higher risk of having an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants in a fallopian tube rather than in the womb. This can cause pain in the tummy, followed by vaginal bleeding or dark vaginal discharge.
Results: The mean gestational age at delivery of the IVF group was 38.13 +/- 1.72 weeks, slightly shorter than spontaneously conceived singletons at 38.65 +/- 1.79 weeks.
The good news is, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with genetic testing, can significantly lower the risk of miscarriage and increase chances for a successful pregnancy.
Recurrent early miscarriages (within the first trimester) are most commonly due to genetic or chromosomal problems of the embryo, with 50-80% of spontaneous losses having abnormal chromosomal number. Structural problems of the uterus can also play a role in early miscarriage.
The vast majority of miscarriages are caused by abnormalities in the number of chromosomes contained in the embryo. Human beings normally have 23 pairs of chromosomes (a total of 46) Very often embryos will have too many or too few chromosomes. These abnormalities are called aneuploidies.
Hormonal imbalances of prolactin, thyroid hormone or progesterone can result in miscarriage. Illnesses such as diabetes mellitus or immune system abnormalities may increase the chance of miscarriage.
Also, about 1% of implanting embryos will split into identical twins. As a result, even when “only” two embryos are transferred, triplet pregnancy can still occur. The risks of low birth weight and prematurity are not to be taken lightly.
Recognizing the symptoms at 4 and 8 weeks, as well as knowing what to expect during the eight-week ultrasound scan, can help couples navigate this unique journey with confidence. The success rate of IVF in India is comparable to global standards, with an average success rate of around 35-45%.
The Sonographer will do a quick survey scan to confirm the gestational sac with the embryo is in the uterus, and will confirm a heartbeat is seen. The number of gestational sacs is counted, as well as the number of embryos in each sac. A single pregnancy has one gestational sac with a single embryo inside.
The cramping is typically much more painful than a period and the bleeding is much heavier. The worst of the miscarriage lasts about eight hours with light bleeding continuing for up to two weeks, possibly starting and stopping a few times.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
Easing Your Miscarriage Fears
Try to remember that your fears are normal, but that this phase will pass. Take time to practice mindfulness, meditation, and take some time for yourself. This could include any stress-reducing activities you enjoy like yoga or going for a walk.
Here's the good news: According to a study, after an ultrasound confirms baby's heartbeat at eight weeks, the risk of miscarriage is about 3 percent. Better yet, research published in Obstetrics & Gynecology indicates that the rate is closer to 1.6 percent for women experiencing no symptoms.
For women younger than 35, the percentage of live births per egg retrieval is 54.5%. For women ages 35 to 37, the percentage of live births per egg retrieval is 41.1%. For women ages 38 to 40, the percentage of live births per egg retrieval is 26.7%.