Chances of miscarriage when conceiving with fertility treatment

[Stephenie]

Does anybody know if the chance of miscarriage is less if you conceive with fertility treatment? I'm assuming that if they can pick the eggs that are the better ones then the chances of genetic deformity are less?!!!!

[freelancescientist]

Sadly this isn't the case unless you have specific tests done on the embryos - it is not a routine part of IVF (but a lot of people think it is).
The risk of miscarriage is about the same as with natural conception - some statistics show it as slightly higher but this is because a pregnancy is detected earlier, so the very early miscarriages are counted.

[Stephenie]

Hmmmmm, I thought that would be the case. so can the fertility tests tell why a couple are not having a successful pregnancy? Also, we have our first appointment with the fertility specialist soon and we have had our preliminary tests done at the doctors - ovulation test was positive, my cycle day 3 test was borderline and DF sperm sample was generally good?!!!!!!!!! Had 1 mc last May at 39 and now ttc again at 40, DF is 30, he has DS and I have no children.

[freelancescientist]

Basic fertility tests cannot always tell why you have had a miscarriage - unfortunately the risk of losing a baby increases with age as well. Your fertility consultant will go through all this with you but in the meantime make sure you take folic acid and keep yourself at a healthy weight, and if either of you smoke at all now is a good time to stop.

[MewlingQuim]

I think the stats are that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in mc, so you may just have been unlucky. That was what I was told by the fertility clinic after my mc, they said that it was a good sign that I had conceived as it proved I was fertile.

Good luck with your specialist appointment.

[Stephenie]

Thank you MewlingQuim & freelancescientist