By Dr. John Oertle
October 14, 2024

Is IVF the Best Solution for Infertility?

Despite the fact that it has recently been spotlighted by candidates to further their political purposes, fertility care is a deeply personal and often very emotional journey for both men and women – and understandably so. Many parents who spend years longing for a son or daughter are heartbroken when they learn that they may never be able to conceive a child together.

It’s for this reason that so many couples turn to Invitro Fertilization (IVF), the process during which a child is created by joining the mother’s egg and the father’s sperm outside the womb in a medical setting. While IVF may appear to be a solution for those struggling to conceive, its ethical and medical downsides make it far from an effective treatment plan.

As a physician specializing in precision medicine, my patients are overjoyed when they learn that comprehensive fertility treatment without the use of artificial reproductive technologies is within reach.

Many patients are unaware that IVF comes with many negative side effects that endanger both mothers and children. In fact, children born through IVF face a higher incidence of health challenges, including premature birth, congenital birth defects, and leukemia. Mothers who choose IVF are also at risk for severe life-threatening complications, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a condition where the body reacts to excess hormones involved in IVF and can lead to serious illness and death. Because IVF is still a relatively new medical technology, additional long-term side effects on mothers and children are yet unknown.

Read the rest of the article on Real Clear Health here!