There is no evidence that many add-on treatments offered to aid IVF (in vitro fertilisation) actually work, a study has revealed.
Research conducted by Oxford University’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine for the BBC’s Panorama found nearly all of these treatments were not backed up by good scientific evidence of success.
On average, one in four cycles of IVF results in birth. But clinics now offer “add-on” treatments to increase chances of success. They include genetic screening tests, extra drugs, and blood tests to measure the immune system (among other things). They cost up to £3,500 on top of the costs of IVF.
Carl Heneghan, director of the centre and who led the team, told Panorama: “It was one of the worst examples I’ve ever seen in healthcare.
“The first thing you would expect to happen is that anything that makes a claim for an intervention would be backed up by some evidence.
“Some of these treatments are of no benefit to you whatsoever and some of them are harmful.”
We want to hear from those who have paid for these add-ons. How much did it cost you? What do you think of this research? What are your general experiences of IVF? Share your stories with us below.
