Patient's question:
My sister has been married for 7 years and has not been pregnant. Tests revealed that she has blocked fallopian tubes on both sides. The male partner has a sperm viability rate of 30%. Could you please tell me what the success rate is for in vitro fertilization (IVF), what the cost is, and what the hospitalization process involves?Doctor's answer:
The success rate of IVF is generally less than 50%. IVF technology is usually safe, but it may lead to some complications:1. Ovarian torsion. Due to ovulation induction treatment causing multiple follicles to grow, or the formation of multiple corpus luteum cysts after egg retrieval, the ovaries may become significantly enlarged. In this case, if a woman moves excessively or changes her posture too quickly, it may cause ovarian torsion. The patient may experience sudden severe abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If the twisted ovary cannot be repositioned in time, surgical treatment may be required. In severe cases, the necrotic ovary may need to be surgically removed.
2. Multiple pregnancies. Because multiple embryos are transplanted into the uterus, the rate of multiple pregnancies resulting from IVF is significantly higher than in natural conception, approximately 25–30%. The risk of late-term miscarriage and premature birth is significantly higher in multiple pregnancies compared to single pregnancies. The mother's risk of developing gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, experiencing difficult labor, and postpartum hemorrhage also increases significantly. Therefore, multiple pregnancies are disadvantageous for both the mother and the child. Currently, many IVF centers are reducing the rate of multiple pregnancies by decreasing the number of embryos transplanted or performing single-embryo transfer. For pregnancies with three or more fetuses, fetal reduction is necessary, and for twin pregnancies, the patient must undergo fetal reduction.