Before starting IVF treatment, your doctor will review your medical history and recent test results to predict how your body might respond to the treatment. This helps them design a personalized plan that gives you the best chance of becoming pregnant.
For some people, multiple IVF cycles are necessary to achieve pregnancy. Each cycle may be different, as your doctor learns how your body responds to fertility medications.
Here’s a breakdown of the key factors your doctor will consider when planning your treatment.
Age: A Key Factor in IVF Success
As women age, the chances of conceiving through IVF decline. Egg quality drops significantly in the mid-to-late 30s, so you may need extra testing and care to select eggs that can lead to a successful pregnancy.
Your doctor will assess your egg quality, as the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases with age. Additionally, as you get older, your ovarian reserve, or the number of eggs left in your ovaries, decreases. This can make your ovaries less responsive to fertility medications, which may require adjustments to your treatment plan.
Ovarian Reserve: Ensuring Multiple Eggs are Collected
Collecting several eggs is crucial for the best chance of success. Some women naturally have fewer eggs, and sometimes the cause isn’t clear. If you’re found to have a low ovarian reserve, your doctor will tailor your treatment to help your ovaries produce as many eggs as possible. This may involve adjusting the doses of fertility hormones, and in some cases, performing two ovarian stimulations in one menstrual cycle to maximize egg collection.
Response to Ovarian Stimulation: Understanding Your Body’s Reaction
Different women’s ovaries respond differently to the fertility medications used for ovarian stimulation. Some women produce many eggs, while others produce very few. Your doctor may categorize your response as low, normal, or high, and they will use this information to adjust your treatment plan.
Factors like your age, BMI, and certain markers like antral follicle count (AFC) and anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) help predict how your ovaries will respond. Based on these predictions, your doctor will decide how long you should take fertility medications or if you need extra hormones.
Risk Factors: Tailoring Treatment for Specific Conditions
If you have reproductive conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), your doctor will consider this when creating your treatment plan. Women with PCOS are often recommended the short protocol, which has been shown to be safer for them.
Some women may be at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a potential complication of IVF. If you’re at higher risk for OHSS, your doctor will adjust your plan to reduce this risk, potentially using a special treatment for triggering ovulation.
Your IVF treatment plan is personalized to fit your specific needs and circumstances. By considering these factors, your doctor can give you the best chance of a successful pregnancy.
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