Patient: Dr. Malpani, what are my chances of getting pregnant with IVF?
Dr. Malpani: That’s a very common question, but it’s actually not very helpful. Let me explain why.
Patient: Really? Why isn’t it helpful?
Dr. Malpani: When you ask about your chances of success, you’re looking for certainty. The reality is that we can’t predict the outcome for any individual IVF cycle.
Patient: But aren’t there statistics or probabilities that can give me an idea?
Dr. Malpani: There are, but those numbers apply to groups of patients, not to you specifically. For example, we might say that a clinic has a 30% success rate, but that doesn’t mean much for your individual case. You’re only concerned with what will happen to you, not the other 99 patients in the clinic.
Patient: So, you can’t give me any kind of percentage or probability?
Dr. Malpani: Unfortunately, no doctor can. We aren’t fortune tellers. Even with all our experience and expertise, we can’t predict individual outcomes with precision. It’s important for you to understand that the outcome for you will be either 0% or 100%, and you’ll only know which one it is after the cycle is complete.
Patient: That’s a bit discouraging. Isn’t there any useful way to look at this?
Dr. Malpani: I understand it can be frustrating. Some doctors might quote very high success rates like 60% or 70% to make patients feel more reassured, but these figures can be misleading. They might do this to encourage you to undergo an IVF cycle, but it’s not fair because it doesn’t reflect your individual chances accurately.
Patient: What happens if the cycle fails after being given high expectations?
Dr. Malpani: When that happens, patients often feel cheated because the doctor who promised high success rates starts saying something completely different after the cycle fails. This inconsistency can be very upsetting and erode trust.
Patient: So, what should I be asking instead?
Dr. Malpani: It’s fine to ask questions, but focus on the quality of the questions. Ask about the process, what we will do, and how we will handle different scenarios. Understanding the treatment better will help you make more informed decisions. Unfortunately, not all doctors take the time to explain this, so you might get answers that are more about what they think you want to hear rather than the truth.
Patient: I see. So, it’s more about understanding the process and being realistic about the uncertainties.
Dr. Malpani: Exactly. By focusing on understanding the treatment and knowing that we’re following best practices, you’ll be better prepared for whatever the outcome might be. This approach gives you peace of mind that you’ve done everything possible to achieve the best result. This is why good clinics quote success figures in terms of cumulative pregnancy rates after 3 cycles. Not only is this more accurate, it gives you more realistic expectations, and prepares you for the fact that IVF can be a roller-coaster journey and that it may not always work in the first cycle. It’s also important to remember that each IVF cycle provides us with valuable diagnostic as well as prognostic information, so that we can keep on tweaking the treatment protocol to maximise your chances of getting pregnant!
Patient: Thanks, Dr. Malpani. I appreciate the clarity. It helps to know what to focus on.
Dr. Malpani: You’re welcome. I’m here to help you navigate this journey with as much information and support as possible.
Dr. Malpani: If you’d like a second opinion, you can fill out the form on our website with your reports, and I’ll provide a free second opinion here. Please get your doubts resolved free using our chatbot which is powered by AI based on Dr Malpani’s 40 years of clinical expertise and experience at https://www.drmalpani.com/chat-w-chatbot/index.html. This will ensure you’re on the right path and potentially save significant costs in the long run.