Trying to conceive after a miscarriage can stir up many emotions. If you’re in the process of healing from the loss of one or more pregnancies, attempts at becoming pregnant again may cause anxiety, anticipation, and wonder.
Maybe you’re looking for options that can help your chances of conceiving and carrying a healthy baby to term. Luckily, there are many options available today with the help of modern medical procedures.
What is Assisted Reproductive Technology?
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is a category of medical intervention processes that address fertility issues. You might be familiar with the most common type of ART called in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which is when an egg and sperm are mixed in a lab and then inserted into a woman’s uterus to be carried until term.
There are several types of Assisted Reproductive Technologies that a doctor or fertility clinic can provide, depending on the circumstance of the person who is trying to conceive.
What are the Success Rates of ART?
To understand pregnancy success using ART after miscarriage, it’s helpful to first look at ART success as a whole.
The Society For Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) claims that women under the age of 40 tend to have higher pregnancy success rates after ART procedures. This is because fertility, in general, tends to be more likely in younger adult years.
In females, the health of the ovaries, eggs, and follicle-stimulating hormones decline rapidly after age 35. This is why age typically plays part in the chances of the egg becoming fertilized, whether through natural methods or with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology.
ART After Miscarriage
Don’t let these statistics alarm you. It’s still very possible to become pregnant at almost any age with the help of ART. Although success rates for Assisted Reproductive Technology treatments vary, millions of people around the world have seen their parenthood dreams become a reality using ART methods to conceive.
Your risk level and chances of success will vary on several factors including the woman’s age, health history, the chosen ART fertility process.
Some women who seek fertility assistance after a miscarriage want the reassurance that their pregnancy will have a higher chance at success. Others have conceived but experienced miscarriage multiple times over several years, opting for ART treatments as a last resort.
No matter what the reason, it’s important to talk with your doctor or fertility expert to determine the best type of ART for you.
Past Miscarriages and ART Success Rates
Does previous miscarriage mean it will be harder to conceive using ART methods?
The short answer is no. In fact, some statistics surprisingly show that women who have experienced miscarriage were 10% more likely to become pregnant through IVF than women who had yet to become pregnant at all.
If you are considering assisted reproductive technology after miscarriage, there is still hope for a successful pregnancy.
Most Common Types of ART After Miscarriage
American Society on Reproductive Health shares that on average, 1 in 4 women experience a miscarriage in their lives. However, even after 3 miscarriages, most women are still more than 60% likely to carry a full, healthy pregnancy.
Most common types of ART after recurring miscarriage include:
In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
As mentioned before, IVF is the most common type of ART. IVF can help a woman’s body carry a viable, fertilized egg even after miscarriages. For more information read The IVF Process.
The four major steps of this process are:
- Stimulation of the ovaries (also called Superovulation)
- Egg retrieval
- Fertilization (in a lab)
- Embryo culture
- Embryo transfer
Third-Party ART
Some people choose to seek the help of third-party Assisted Reproductive Technology treatments. This type of ART, specifically a Gestational Carrier, is a promising option when the woman has fertile eggs but isn’t capable of carrying a pregnancy.
Third-party ART is also highly versatile to the female or couple’s situation when trying to conceive. These third-part methods include:
- Surrogate carriers: sperm is given to the egg from a surrogate with healthy eggs, then the surrogate carries pregnancy full-term for the parent(s)-to-be
- Gestational carriers: the fertile sperm and egg from two individuals are fertilized, then implanted into and carried by a surrogate to term
- Sperm or Egg donation: depending on the parent(s)-to-be’s fertility, if one is incapable of providing healthy sperm or eggs, the option of seeking sperm/egg donation is helpful
What are the Risks of Using ART After Miscarriage?
As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks and side effects. Each person undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology will have their own set of risks depending on their health, lifestyle, and the steps of the procedure they undergo.
If you’re considering this route for conceiving, talk to your healthcare provider about the best option for you and your family.
Is ART For You?
If you’re still worried about recurring miscarriages or becoming pregnant after miscarriages, ART may be able to help. In 2018 alone, more than 81,400 births were a result of ART treatments, according to the CDC.
There are many opportunities available for all types of fertility issues among individuals and couples. No matter your background or current fears about pregnancy, seek out an Assisted Reproductive Technology professional to discuss the type of treatments that could be best for you.
