How IVF scientists may be missing the point with their statistics. Should the focus be on science or how we can prevent infertility in the first place?
While any increase in positive outcomes in IVF is great for infertile couples, one would wonder why an 0.9% increase would be mentioned, especially as the rate of couples seeking treatment increased by a sizable 6%. Surely this would affect any increase in success rates? Is it really an increase or is it just that there are more women having treatment so there will be more IVF babies.
I'm not putting down IVF at all and think that this news is good news. I'd be the first one to take advantage of science if I needed to, but I can't help but feel medics are missing the point. Surely prevention is better than cure? The answer to infertility must be looking at what causes it and working to protect ourselves from infertility. Here are some proven ways to help preserve our ability to reproduce.
- Don't have lots of sexual partners. Have only one. Then you have much less chance of getting a sexually transmitted infection which could harm your fertility.
- Don't smoke, take drugs or eat lots of junk foods. Keeping your weight down can increase your chances of getting pregnant.
- Try to reduce your chemical exposure (household products, cosmetics, work contaminants, medicines and vaccines).
- Don't drink alcohol for at least three months before you plan to get pregnant.
