In an effort to attract patients and compete against the more-than 400 fertility centers providing IVF nationwide, fertility clinics today routinely bombard women with statistical data and claims of high success rates. Interpreting what these numbers really mean can be overwhelming to even the most educated couple hoping to get pregnant.
For example, a prospective patient may hear about a particular practice’s pregnancy rate of 71 percent for women under age 38, 59 percent for age 38 through age 39, and 45 percent for women age 40 through 42. On top of those statistics, a fertility specialist may also speak of pregnancy rates for women who use egg donors, as well as for IVF patients who use their own eggs with ICSI (a procedure in which a single sperm is directly injected into an egg). Because these numbers can be confusing, here’s some information and tips to guide you through the daunting maze of data.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates that all IVF clinics report their statistics yearly, and over 90 percent of centers do, according to Eric Surrey, M.D., president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and medical director at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine in Englewood. You can look at an individual clinic’s statistics online at cdc.gov/ART/ART2006.index.htm
Even if the clinic gives you this data itself, it still may be worth checking the CDC’s website. That’s because a fertility clinic may choose to present only the very best parts of its statistics to prospective patients. For instance, a fertility clinic’s own brochures or website may only discuss pregnancy rates, which are usually higher than live birth rates (also called take-home baby rates). But on the CDC’s website, both statistics would be available.
The CDC requires that fertility clinics break down their data by different measures of success (pregnancies, live births [birth of multiples is considered a single live birth], and birth of singletons). Data is further broken down by the woman’s age, and by the type of IVF cycle (fresh versus frozen embryo, donor versus non-donor egg). Couples should try to find the numbers that match the situation most like theirs.
Fertility clinics must also break down and report patient diagnostic data—for instance, whether a couple’s difficulty conceiving is due to a tubal problem, an ovulatory dysfunction, a male factor, etc. This statistic is especially important for couples, who can use the information to determine if a fertility clinic they’re considering treats patients with similar medical problems to their own.
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Number one: You need to make sure the place you choose has good reviews. Do your homework. Ask friends. Make sure that they have done EVERYTHING to ensure your safety. That means everything is clean and safe. You should even read up on their ultrasound service training records. Your family will be safe and secure knowing you planned out your conceivement!
Name : Dr Teena W/O lee from Pakistan
I had irregular(delayed 3-4months)menses since menarche, age of 13years
Now I am 29 years old and married for 2years I diagnose as hypothyroidism with my increased TSH Dr prescribe me thyroxin then I had spontaneous pregnancy and Doctor advise me about THYROIDE MICROSOMAL ANTIBODIES these both thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase antibodies was so high and dr prescribe me 2 tablets ascard 75mg,after taking all treatments my miscarriage occur in 6th week of pregnancy with spontaneous bleeding.
My reports
17/4/2010
TSH 13.4 ulU/ml
T3(normal) 1.19ng/ml
T4(normal) 7.46 ug/dl
Report after taking 2 thyroxin 50mcg
2/6/2010
TSH 0.065 ulU/ml
After reducing dose 2 to 1 thyroxin and
Report after getting pregnant 22/6/2010
TSH 5.48 ulU/ml
Thyroid Antibodies during pregnancy 1/7/2010
Thyroid Thyroglobulin 180.4 IU/mL normal ranges less then 34
Peroxidase antibodies 354 IU/mL normal ranges less then 12
Miscarriage occur in 11/8/2010
Report date 18/1/2011
Then Doctor prescribe 2 aspirin 200mg daily to reduce antibodies
Thyroid Thyroglobulin 68.4 IU/mL normal ranges less then 34
Peroxidase antibodies 182 IU/mL normal ranges less then 12
Continue 2 aspirin
Report date 14/2/2011
Thyroid Thyroglobulin 54.7 IU/mL normal ranges less then 34
Peroxidase antibodies 136 IU/mL normal ranges less then 12
Report date 11/3/2011
FSH 7.85 mlU/ml
Progestrone 0.534 ng/ml
Serum Estradiol 35.20 pg/ml
Report date 9/4/2011
TSH 1.66 ul/ml
Report date 08/4/2011 2 aspirin
Thyroid Thyroglobulin 51.5 IU/mL normal ranges less then 34
Peroxidase antibodies 111.7 IU/mL normal ranges less then 12
Report date 05/5/2011
Anti Phospholipid Igm negative
IgG negative
Then we leave this antibodies treatment and went to other doctor who told us antibodies is not the cause of your miscarriage and aspirin is not to reduce the antibodies
Report date 14/6/2011
TSH 0.714 1.5 tab thyroxin 50mg
He prescribe ovulation induction treatment from tab femara 2.5mg 10tab for 5 days
injection hemorogon 2ampouls and one IVFC injection 5000 units
Treatment was successful and I conceived again in 25/06/2011
Report date 20/7/2011
After pregnancy TSH 5.9 increase to 2 tab thyroxin 50mg
During pregnancy doctor prescribe me tab(cyclogest) Progestrone 400mg intravaginal
Report date 06/08/2011
TSH 3.02 2 tab thyroxin 50mg
Unfortunately I had again miscarriage start bleeding with pain On 2/9/2011
I had again DNC
NOW WE ARE CONFUSE TO DECIDE THE DOCTOR AND TREATMENT AND UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF ABORTION PLEASE HELP US.