One in six conceive naturally following failed IVF

‘They should keep trying’

WOMEN may be wasting thousands of pounds on IVF when they could conceive without it, a study suggests.

Researchers found one in six became pregnant naturally and gave birth following a failed attempt at fertility treatment.

Experts say many people, particularly those with ‘unexplained infertility’, stand a good chance of starting a family without IVF.

Simply carrying on trying to get pregnant often works, although less so for older women and those who have been trying for a long time.

Researchers led by the University of Aberdeen followed more than 2,000 women who had fertility treatment between 1998 and 2011.

During that period, about half failed to become pregnant or suffered a miscarriage. But, when they were followed up, 17 per cent went on to have a baby in the next five years. It may be that their stress levels were lower, or simply that it takes some couples longer to conceive.

Study leader Dr David McLernon said: ‘Women who have no proven barrier to conception, yet have had an unsuccessful IVF journey, should keep trying.’ About one in six couples in the UK suffer infertility and 75,000 IVF treatments are carried out each year. The NHS only offers women IVF up to the age of 42. The treatment costs £5,000 for the average private patient.

The study involved 2,133 women, about a third of whom had a male partner with fertility problems, while others were suffering from medical issues or failing to ovulate properly.

Around a quarter had unexplained infertility, which means doctors can find no medical reason for it. Doctors usually send women for IVF after two years of unexplained infertility.

Among the 1,073 women in the study who had failed IVF, who were tracked for one to 15 years after their last attempt, 185 had at least one baby naturally afterwards. Within two and a half years, 15 per cent had given birth, with this rising to 17 per cent after five years.

Among the 1,060 women who had a child through IVF, 15 per cent had conceived again naturally in the following five years.

The research, published in Human Reproduction, notes that among this group, women aged over 31 were 11 per cent less likely to conceive naturally for every year they try.