One of the most difficult things about fertility treatment is that no one can really give you any idea of how likely it is to work. They may tell you that based on your age, or medical condition, your chances are slightly higher or lower than average, but predictions are always vague at the best of times.
Now, researchers in the United States have managed to predict with 70% accuracy whether IVF is likely to be successful or not. The team from Stanford University in California didn't use any amazing new techniques for the study, which was published this week. Instead, looking at 665 treatment cycles, they managed to work out how to predict success from existing evidence, using four basic measures.
They found the relevant factors were
1. The number of embryos
2. The number of embryos that had 8-cells
3. The percentage of embryos that had stopped dividing and would perish
4. The woman's FSH levels
By combining these factors, they found they could obtain a surprisingly accurate analysis of the chances of success. You can read more about the research at www.plosone.org
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