- By: Jananam
- March 17, 2025
5 important pieces of advice from IVF experts
The most consistent IVF expert advice is to allow time for diagnosis before committing to treatment. Specialists generally recommend completing basic tests for both partners, establishing why conception has not happened, and asking how many cycles may realistically be needed, rather than starting IVF as a first response to a few months of trying.
Are you seeking to get IVF? Take a look at what you should know about IVF.
Have you been trying to conceive for some time now? Have you started to lose hope and think that it is hopeless trying to conceive naturally anymore? Is IVF the only solution coming to your mind? This can be a confusing matter, especially in the first phase — when you are trying to decide whether or not it is even possible.
If this is the case with you, then it is time to look for the right IVF expert advice to guide you before you actually visit them. You might also have questions. Here are a few things you need to know before opting for IVF, or what a fertility expert would advise you.
- Give yourself time before going in with IVF
While everyone is unique and different, some couples take only a few months to conceive while others take almost a year or two to conceive. So an IVF expert would advise to not lose hope within the first few months of trying and carry on until a year at least and see if they can conceive naturally before seeking IVF treatment.
- Choose simple fertility treatments first
Post naturally trying to conceive after a year or two, while the age group of the couple is below 30 years, IUI is advised. It may require single or multiple cycles depending on the couple and other factors associated with their fertility. If IUI seems to have failed, only then IVF is advised by the fertility expert.
- When both tubes are blocked
When the diagnosis shows that both the fallopian tubes of the female partner are blocked, IVF is highly recommended for this kind of infertility as the eggs cannot travel through the blockage in the fallopian tube, and hence cannot meet the sperm, preventing fertilization.
- When the male partner has a total motile count of less than 5 million
When the total motile count seems to be less than what is required for the male partner to fertilize the egg, the process of IVF can be employed to choose the best sperm samples and fertilize them with the egg in vitro to achieve fertilization.
- Post-cancer fertility treatment
If the couple is looking to conceive using their own gametes would need to save them before going for cancer treatment. That would require cryopreservation. After the cancer treatment is finished, the fertility doctor can determine when to start the fertility treatment again with the frozen eggs, sperm, or embryo.
IVF has become more and more common. Although not guaranteed, it increases the chances of becoming pregnant compared to other methods. There are a lot of choices and risks to consider when deciding on which course of treatment fits your situation best. Some people will not be able to afford this procedure, others will decide this is their last resort when fertility treatments have failed them multiple times. With positive results being reported throughout the world, it’s not surprising that more and more couples are opting for the procedure.
References
- National Health Service. (2021). Overview on IVF. NHS. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ivf
- Pelinck, M. J., Hoek, A., Simons, A. H. M., & Heineman, M. J. (2002). Efficacy of natural cycle IVF: a review of the literature. Human reproduction update, 8(2), 129-139.
What do fertility specialists actually advise?
Should we get tested before considering IVF?
Yes. Basic testing covers ovulation, tubal patency, uterine anatomy, ovarian reserve and semen parameters. The results often change the recommendation, and sometimes point to a simpler treatment than IVF.
How do I know if IVF is the right step?
It depends on diagnosis, age and how long you have been trying. Blocked tubes, significant male factor, reduced ovarian reserve or several unsuccessful IUI cycles all point toward IVF. A short history at a younger age often does not.
What should I ask at the first consultation?
Why this protocol, what response is realistic for your age and ovarian reserve, how many cycles may be needed, what is included in the cost, and who will perform the procedures. Vague answers to these are informative in themselves.
How many cycles should we plan for?
There is no fixed number, and outcomes are best understood cumulatively across a course of treatment including frozen transfers. Planning for the possibility of more than one cycle is more realistic than assuming one will be enough.
Should both partners attend appointments?
Where possible, yes. Decisions affect both of you, male factor is common, and hearing the explanation directly avoids the strain of one partner relaying complex information to the other.
Is a second opinion reasonable?
Entirely. A clinic confident in its plan will not object, and a written summary of your cycle makes a second opinion far more useful. Reluctance to provide one is itself worth noting.
Related reading
Clinical references
Independent clinical guidance relevant to this topic:
