A group of fertility doctors believe that it is possible that couples could conceive naturally in some cases if they waited for longer than three years before seeking treatment.

When most Nigerian women think of infertility, they think of IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation).

But do you know that some couples who end up doing IVF treatment, may be able to have conceived naturally?

A group of fertility doctors are arguing that providing IVF treatment for unexplained infertility may be leading to overtreatment of couples who could go on to conceive naturally.

In an analysis which was published in the British Medical Journal, the doctors said IVF offered the only chance of conception for women with blocked fallopian tubes and men with severe infertility.

The doctors believe that it is possible that couples could conceive naturally in some cases if they waited for longer than three years before seeking treatment.

The doctors also raised concerns about the long-term health of children born through IVF. These children are known to have  have higher blood pressure, body fat, glucose levels and vascular dysfunction than children conceived naturally.

One of the doctors, Ben Mol, a University of Adelaide Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology says that.

“A lack of confidence among both subfertile couples and their doctors that conception will eventually occur naturally can lead to access to IVF within two to three years of trying to conceive,” they said.

 

“Another factor is that procedures are increasingly performed in private health systems, where the focus on commercial returns has resulted in less academic oversight of who receives treatment and when.”

 

“As a scientific and medical community we should come up with comparative data comparing IVF treatment to a more conservative approach, and as soon as we have that data we can inform couples better,” he said.

 

“Until these concerns are resolved, there should be caution about using IVF in couples where the benefit is uncertain or the chances of natural conception are still reasonable,” the doctors said.

 

“As a society we face a choice. We can continue to offer early, non-evidence based access to IVF to couples with fertility problems or follow a more challenging path to prove interventions are effective and safe.

 

“We owe it to all subfertile couples and their potential children to use IVF judiciously and to ensure that we are first doing no harm.”