IVF plays a major role in the world of fertility medicine. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t complex and sometimes hard to understand. With more and more clinics opening worldwide, the information is flooding through to the national consciousness like never before. And whilst this is great news, it also means that there is room for error and misunderstandings about the whole IVF process, which can discourage women from considering it. So it’s important to get the right information circulating about IVF treatment so it can help as many people as possible.

At the Cyprus IVF Centre we are proud to have a globally recognised IVF team, so read on to find out the truth about one of the world’s most important medical procedures…..

  1. IVF is the solution for all infertility problems. Not true. It may be used often, but there are other treatments as well, such as OI (ovulation induction) and IUI (intra-uterine insemination).
  2. IVF is only used as a last resort. No. Sometimes it’s the very first treatment, depending on the diagnosis. For example, bilateral tube blockage, more advanced age or male factor infertility.
  3. IVF is only for the wealthy. Certainly not true. With the advent of IVF clinics opening up outside the UK, prices have become cheaper and more flexible. Payment is often made in stages which removes the need for a lump sum upfront. That’s not to say that it won’t be expensive, but the cost hasn’t increased dramatically over the years, meaning that more and more people can now afford IVF treatment in Cyprus.
  4. Only young people can have IVF. False. Using donor eggs can open up the treatment to almost any age bracket. At the Cyprus IVF Centre our doctors regularly treat women in their early sixties, and those in a broad age range who cannot use their own eggs. The average age for IVF is actually mid-late thirties.
  5. IVF is successful in all cases. Sadly, this is also not true. However, at the Cyprus IVF Centre, we have a very high success rate.
  6. You will need to be admitted to the hospital overnight. False. The vast majority of IVF treatment takes place on an out-patient basis. Only procedures such as evening egg collections might mean an overnight stay.
  7. IVF always means multiple pregnancies like twins or triplets. This is not the case. Controlling the number of embryos transferred means reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies. However that said, multiple births are still more common after IVF treatment than anything else.
  8. No one else understands what you’re going through. Whilst IVF treatment is necessarily a highly individual experience, you will be surrounded by lots of people who have seen the process through many, many times before. Your thoughts and feelings are likely to be very similar to those of previous patients. But more importantly – Our Doctors and Team Miracle at the Cyprus IVF Centre are always on hand for advice and support whenever you need it.
  9. IVF is guaranteed to be emotionally challenging because of the drugs. Again, not true. A myriad of things go into your IVF experience and though the drugs will form part of your reaction, they don’t complete it. You won’t necessarily have an emotionally turbulent time; there are lots of things to factor in. For example, the stress of the treatment and how much you have already gone through. Medications may affect you, but they don’t guarantee to make life difficult for you. In fact, oestrogen is a ‘happy’ hormone and IVF meds raise its presence in your body. So you may even feel a little bit more awake and alert!
  10. You are guaranteed to need multiple cycles of IVF. There is no way of knowing how many treatment cycles you may or may not need. So many different factors go into this – the type of treatment, age, natural fertility levels – it is impossible to predict whether IVF will work straight away or whether you’ll need multiple cycles. However, our doctors and Team Miracle at Cyprus IVF Centre will always do their very best to maximise the chance of pregnancy at the first attempt.

It’s important to dispel these myths so that those either contemplating or going through the IVF process are encouraged and reassured. Worrying about the treatment is normal, but there’s no point in worrying about more things than you need to.

If you are ever uncertain or confused about any element of your treatment at the Cyprus IVF Centre then contact a member of Team Miracle. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and set your mind at rest.