Is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Safe?

Your fertility specialist will help determine a treatment plan that offers the best possible chance of success, and this may include IVF. Like any medical procedure, there are risks and complications associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF), but that does not mean the procedure is unsafe.

At Washington Fertility Center, we’re more than happy to address any patient questions and concerns about the safety of IVF treatment, including potential -- but not typical -- risks and complications.

What are the most common risks associated with IVF?
• Multiple births – Patients have an increased chance of conceiving twins or other multiples if more than one embryo is implanted.
• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome – In cases where fertility medications are used to complete treatment, injectable drugs can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The condition leads to swollen, sometimes painful ovaries.

IVF advancements
The first baby born from successful IVF treatment in the Unites States was Elizabeth Jordan Carr in 1981. In the years since, the procedure and other assisted reproductive technologies have evolved to a point where they are largely very safe with decreased risks and complications, pending individual health concerns. Your fertility specialist can clarify if you and/or your partner are at a higher risk for complications and side effects and whether your treatment plan should be altered based on this risk level.

Facts about IVF treatment
• An average cycle of IVF takes about 4 to 6 weeks to complete.
• When measuring a clinic’s IVF success rates, patients should keep in mind clinics that do not include rates for women over age 40 because their rates can seem high if they exclude women at and over this age.
• A single cycle of IVF at Washington Fertility Center starts at $9,000. We also offer an IVF Baby Guarantee package for $19,900. Learn more about our affordable fees.
• IVF can be used to treat unexplained infertility, those with failed IUI and/or other fertility treatment, female partners with ovulation issues, low sperm count, endometriosis and more.
• IVF is not always the first course of action when a couple is able to conceive unless a medical concern is already diagnosed.

Contact Washington Fertility Center to learn more about IVF treatment at our facility.