Private MD News

Fertility treatments are nearly as successful as natural conception

Category: Infertitlity Hormone Testing

Following FSH test results indicating low levels of fertility, couples still have many options for conceiving. A new study has found that birth rates following use of assisted reproductive technology may be nearly equal to those of natural methods.

In the study, researchers from Michigan State University analyzed data collected by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. The study involved nearly 247,000 women. Results showed that about 57 percent of women become pregnant following fertility treatments. This is within the range of spontaneous conception that occurs in the general public.

"This is good news for women who are trying to have a child," said lead researcher Barbara Luke.

The results did show that some factors can reduce the success rate of artificial reproductive technology treatments. Specifically, women over the age of 38 and who used their own eggs (as opposed to donor eggs) tended to have the lowest success rates.

But barring these factors, the findings show that assisted reproduction treatments can be very successful. This suggests that an FSH test indicating low levels of fertility does not have to end a couple's efforts to conceive.