IVF Add-Ons Under Fire: Study Reveals Many Offer 'False Hope' and No Real Benefit
IVF Add-Ons Under Fire: Study Reveals Many Offer 'False Hope' and No Real Benefit
Groundbreaking research challenges the efficacy of numerous IVF 'add-on' treatments. Many are found to offer "false hope" with no proven fertility benefits. Learn what this means for hopeful parents.
A new study has cast a critical eye on the efficacy of most "add-on" treatments offered alongside in vitro fertilisation (IVF), revealing that many provide "false hope" and do not improve fertility outcomes. Published in Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health, the research analyzed 85 existing clinical trials, focusing on popular therapies like steroids for inflammation, plasma injections, and genetic testing.
The findings indicate that the majority of these add-ons either had no discernible effect on fertility, yielded inconclusive results, or offered only a small, uncertain benefit in a handful of cases. Experts are now warning prospective parents about widespread misinformation, with clinics, online forums, and social media often overstating the advantages of these unproven therapies, potentially leading to costly and emotionally draining endeavors for patients.
The study specifically found no effect or inconclusive results for a range of treatments, including acupuncture, corticosteroids aimed at reducing inflammation, endometrial receptivity testing, intralipid infusions, platelet-rich plasma injections, and pre-implantation genetic testing (for individuals without a family history of genetic issues). Researchers noted that the quality of evidence for many treatments was poor, leading to uncertainty regarding their effectiveness, and many studies were excluded due to trustworthiness concerns.
While the review found weak evidence for some possible benefit for three IVF add-ons, including EmbryoGlue – thought to enhance the chance of an embryo implanting in the womb – even here, the impact on live birth rates was not considered robust. For EmbryoGlue, there was a suggestion it might increase the probability of pregnancy by about 25%, but this doesn't guarantee a live birth. This research highlights the urgent need for clearer, evidence-based guidance for couples undergoing fertility treatments.
