Understanding Miscarriage

Overview

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive method, also the most widely used method in treating infertility by medical professionals all over the world.

The procedure involves acquiring egg cells from the patient’s ovaries and performing fertilisation in the laboratory with sperm from her partner. After 2-6 days in the laboratory, the sample is then transferred into the uterus to allow a pregnancy to occur.

Patients should however be very clear that IVF is not a treatment method, but only a form of reproductive assistance. Due to this reason amongst others, IVF has consistently seen a success rate of 20-35% per cycle, and also decreases with each successive round. Furthermore, many medical professionals assume that the low success rate of the procedure is primarily due to the embryo’s quality when there are other underlying conditions such as the internal environmental factors and organic diseases of the uterus that are being overlooked or ignored.

Though IVF is internationally renowned & medically revolutionary reproductive technology, but only if it is used accurately and correctly. If used at the wrong or incorrect area/situation, it does not matter how effective or incredible your technology is, it will still be ineffective, and patients will be the ones left suffering.

Indication

IVF is only effective for patients who are unable to conceive with in vivo fertilisation, having the following conditions:

• Blocked, removed, or damaged fallopian tubes, or any other problems of the fallopian tubes
• Anovulation (a final resort after attempts of ovulation induction)
• Patients who intend to opt for surrogacy.
• Embryo storage for future pregnancy. (Cryopreservation)

IVF is not a treatment method, nor can it treat recurrent miscarriage

IVF cannot be used to treat all causes of infertility. As we know, there are currently over 150 diseases that can cause infertility, and IVF currently can only be used for infertility due to fallopian tube problems or anovulation.

However, in current day due to over-commercialization, IVF is being recommended to almost every infertile patient, regardless of their primary causes and is even progressively used to “treat” patients suffering from miscarriages/recurrent miscarriages. To add on, due to the treatment cost of IVF and desperations of the infertility patients and RSA patients, these medical institutions offering IVF have now become the biggest money-makers in the business of reproductive treatment, but ironically can only present mediocre success rates at the expense of patient’s wellbeing and health.

In the field of reproductive health, IVF is not a cure-for-all. IVF can only aid the conception of a child, but patients suffering from recurrent miscarriage are suffering from organic gynaecological diseases and not infertility. They are perfectly capable of conceiving a pregnancy, but due to underlying conditions shown below, they are unable to sustain it till full term.

Organic diseases that cause recurrent miscarriage such as:

• Adenomyosis
• Endometriosis
• POI
• Uterine Fibroids
• PCOS
• Intrauterine Adhesions
• Pelvic Adhesions
• Uterine Malformations

Other reasons include:

• Induced abortions leading to immunological miscarriages
• Iatrogenesis 

Organic diseases are diseases that originate within the organ itself and must be treated via surgery. These listed conditions require proper diagnosis and gynaecological surgery to cure them effectively, which will then help you have a successful pregnancy and prevent miscarriages. However, IVF does nothing to treat these conditions, which means soon after implanting the in-vitro fertilized egg cells, pregnancy will very quickly be terminated.

Conclusion

We believe that these IVF treatments has to be focused on patient with indications that can be actually treated, and not blindly used for all infertility causes and recurrent miscarriage conditions. The least these medical doctors can do it to have patient’s underlying conditions effectively treated first before recommending IVF for best outcome.

There should also be more transparency for patient and doctors, for purpose of awareness and clarity; And a suggestion of an independent medical regulatory body to oversee these IVF treatments to prevent exploitation.

As medical professionals, our sole priority should be the wellbeing and treatment of our patients. The responsibility and dedication we have towards our patients is what ultimately determines our success, and not the blind pursuit of fortune.

Such a profound and impactful medical breakthrough should not be solely used for profit, but for the treatment of diseases, betterment of society and humanity as a whole.