Question: A friend of mine recently conceived a couple of months after two failed IVF cycles. Did she really need IVF in the first place or did the IVF change things to make it more likely she would get pregnant on her own later?

Answer: For some couples, IVF is necessary because the woman’s tubes are blocked or because the sperm count is drastically low. For these patients, IVF is probably the only way they are going to conceive. For the rest of our patients, those with endometriosis, mild male factor, decreased ovarian reserve, age-related, or unexplained infertility, there is some chance of conception, however low it is. For these patients, IVF is a way to boost (often dramatically) the chances of conceiving sooner than later.

For example, for a couple that has unexplained infertility of one to two years’ duration, the statistical chances that they are going to conceive on their own are probably in the range of 3% per month. Depending on the woman’s age, IVF could increase that to 20-50% per month of treatment. But even if she doesn’t happen to get pregnant with IVF, and the couple continues to try on their own, their chance of conception returns to that 3% per month, so they may conceive, even after a failed IVF attempt. There is no reason that the IVF itself should make that couple more likely to conceive later.