Repeated IVF attempts may reduce chances of success

	Repeated IVF attempts may reduce chances of success The chances of conceiving with the aid of fertility treatment may start to decrease after two or three previous attempts, new research suggests. Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, carried out a study to investigate outcomes among couples seeking fertility treatment. In particular, they wanted to find out whether there was any relationship between the number of previous fertility cycles and rates of pregnancy. A total of 408 couples were assessed via face-to-face and telephone interviews and questionnaires. Researchers found that couples who had received one or two cycles of medication alone had a 'significantly higher pregnancy rate' than those who had undergone three or more cycles. For those using intrauterine insemination (IUI), pregnancy was most likely after one, two or three cycles, but no additional benefit was seen for those using four or more cycles. Meanwhile, couples had a significantly higher chance of conceiving after one or two cycles of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), but the benefits were less noticeable for couples using three or more IVF cycles. Writing in the journal Fertility and Sterility, the study authors warned: 'Cycle-based fertility treatments may offer a point of diminishing returns for infertile couples.' According to NHS guidelines, couples may be eligible for IVF if the woman is aged 23 to 39 years, the cause of the couple's infertility is known, or they have had infertility problems for at least three years. However, decisions on funding for IVF are made at a local level and the exact criteria for eligibility depend on the individual primary care trust. Source: www.ippf.org