Maatritva IVF Fertility & Healthcare.
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Newtown, Kolkata · +91 8100343839
February 2025 · Dr. Ankita Mandal, MD (OBGYN)
Misinformation about IVF can delay critical treatment and cause unnecessary fear. As an IVF specialist, I regularly address these myths in my clinic. Let me set the record straight.
Myth: IVF children are physically or mentally different from naturally conceived children.
Fact: Decades of research show that IVF children have the same health outcomes as naturally conceived children. The procedure does not alter a child's DNA or development.
Myth: IVF involves unbearable surgical pain throughout the process.
Fact: Egg retrieval is done under light sedation. Most women describe stimulation injections as mild discomfort, and embryo transfer is painless. The process is very manageable with modern protocols.
Myth: IVF always causes multiple pregnancies.
Fact: Modern IVF uses elective single embryo transfer (eSET) to minimize twins. While twins are possible, responsible clinics avoid transferring multiple embryos routinely, especially in younger patients.
Myth: IVF depletes your egg reserve and causes premature menopause.
Fact: IVF stimulates eggs that would have been naturally wasted in that cycle. It does not "borrow from the future." Your overall long-term ovarian reserve is not diminished by IVF cycles.
Myth: Infertility is always the woman's issue.
Fact: Male factor infertility accounts for about 40–50% of all infertility cases. IVF with ICSI specifically addresses male infertility. A semen analysis is always part of the initial workup.
Myth: Bed rest for weeks after embryo transfer improves chances of success.
Fact: Evidence shows that bed rest does NOT improve IVF success rates. Normal, light daily activities are encouraged. Excessive bed rest may actually reduce blood flow to the uterus.
Myth: One IVF cycle is enough and will guarantee a baby.
Fact: First-cycle success rates range from 40–70% depending on age. Many couples need 2–3 cycles. Cumulative success rates over multiple cycles are significantly higher than single-cycle rates.
Myth: Hormonal stimulation injections in IVF cause breast or ovarian cancer.
Fact: Large-scale studies have found no credible link between IVF hormones and cancer. The stimulation period is short and the hormone levels used are within safe medical ranges.
Myth: Women over 40 cannot benefit from IVF.
Fact: IVF is absolutely viable after 40. Success rates are lower with own eggs (20–35%), but donor egg IVF can achieve 50–65% success even for women in their late 40s. PGT-A also significantly improves outcomes.
Myth: IVF is an "unnatural" or morally unacceptable procedure.
Fact: IVF simply assists the natural process of fertilization and is practised within ethical guidelines globally. Many religious authorities support IVF as a compassionate answer to infertility using the couple's own genetic material.
Maatritva IVF Fertility & Healthcare.
Newtown, Kolkata · +91 8100343839