One in five women ‘conceive naturally after having IVF baby’
Scientists say the study results give fresh hope to couples planning a family
A study has found that around one in five women become pregnant naturally after receiving fertility treatment such as IVF
/ Andrew Matthews/PA Wireround one in five women become pregnant naturally after receiving fertility treatment such as IVF, a study has found.
Researchers at University College London (UCL) said the findings give fresh hope to couples planning a family and challenge misconceptions around fertility treatment.
They analysed data from 11 studies of over 5,000 women around the world between 1980 and 2021 to evaluate how common it is to get pregnant naturally after having a baby conceived by fertility treatment.
Scientists found that at least one in five women who sought assisted contraception for their first child were able to become pregnant naturally within three years.
Lead author Dr Annette Thwaites, of UCL’s EGA Institute for Women’s Health, said: “Our findings suggest that natural pregnancy after having a baby by IVF is far from rare. This is in contrast with widely held views – by women and health professionals – and those commonly expressed in the media, that it is a highly unlikely event.”
The UCL team said a vast majority of participants in the studies had subfertility – where conceiving takes longer than typically expected.
Infertility is usually diagnosed after a couple has failed to conceive despite a year of trying. It is estimated to affect one in seven heterosexual couples.
Researchers said the finding were important as “many women may not realise that they could conceive naturally following fertility treatment”.
IVF was first used in 1978 and now, more than 10 million babies worldwide have been born using the treatment.
This equates to between 1 per cent and 6 per cent of all babies born per year in the developed world by 2020.
The treatment is not always available for free on the NHS, and one cycle can cost up to £5,000 or more.
Researchers have called for linked national data sets to allow scientists to track data more accurately and analyse which factors make natural pregnancy after having a baby by fertility treatment more likely.
Dr Thwaites added: “Knowing what is possible would empower women to plan their families and make informed choices regarding further fertility treatment and/or contraception.”