Pregnancy Outcomes

Pregnancy Outcomes

Pregnancy success rates vary greatly and are influenced by many factors.

Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), often called the “pregnancy hormone” because it is produced during pregnancy and is made by cells that form the placenta. Blood tests to detect the hormone are conducted by a doctor; home pregnancy tests detect the hormone in your urine.

Negative Pregnancy Test

A negative pregnancy test result following fertility treatment may elicit a number of emotions including disappointment, despair, anger, frustration, and possibly guilt. It’s important to speak with you doctor to help determine why the cycle failed, and when to it’s appropriate to undergo another treatment cycle.

Fertility Clinic Success Rates

The annual “Fertility Clinic Success Rates and National Summary" published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), helps fertility patients make informed decisions about assisted reproductive technology (ART). The current report presents data on the outcomes of all ART cycles started at 483 U.S. fertility clinics in 2006.

You’re Pregnant

Congratulations! You’re pregnant following fertility treatment! But don’t be surprised if you initially react with shock and disbelief. Additional testing and counseling by your doctor should help ease these fears, however. If all is going well, after week seven of your pregnancy your fertility specialist will “graduate” you and an ob/gyn will monitor the remainder of the pregnancy.

Multiples

Patients undergoing IVF are 10 times more likely to experience a multiple birth than women in general. Twins are most common, but triplets, quadruplets, or even greater numbers can occur. The number of embryos to transfer during an IVF cycle is based on several factors including embryo quality and the mother’s age.

Selective Reduction

In the case of “higher order multiples” (three or more), you may be given the option or be advised to reduce the number of fetuses, known as “selective reduction.” This very difficult decision may increase the chance of having one or two healthy babies, and may be in the best interest of the mother’s health as well.

Miscarriage

A miscarriage is defined as the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Three consecutive miscarriages are considered “recurring,” and medical tests may be ordered to determine if there are underlying conditions.

Gender Selection

More and more fertility clinics are offering gender selection with in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI); methods include preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and a sperm sorting technology called Microsort®.