Top 12 Reasons for Women to Use IVF
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most widely used and successful forms of assisted reproductive technology (ART).
While many people associate IVF with infertility, the truth is that women choose IVF for a variety of reasons. Some are related to fertility challenges, while others have to do with medical conditions, genetic considerations, or personal family-building goals.
At CNY Fertility, we work with women from diverse backgrounds and with a range of unique circumstances. Understanding the most common reasons for women to use IVF can help you decide if it’s the right path for you.
1. Blocked or Damaged Fallopian Tubes
One of the earliest uses of IVF was to help women whose fallopian tubes were blocked or damaged.1
In natural conception, the egg must travel through the fallopian tube to meet the sperm. If the tube is blocked or scarred, due to infection, surgery, or conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease, fertilization cannot occur.
With IVF, the egg is retrieved directly from the ovary and fertilized in the lab, bypassing the fallopian tubes entirely. This makes IVF a leading treatment choice for women with tubal factor infertility.
2. Ovulatory Disorders
Some women have irregular or absent ovulation, which can make timing conception difficult or impossible. Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hypothalamic amenorrhea can disrupt normal ovulation. 2
While other fertility treatments like ovulation-inducing medications may help, IVF allows your care team to control the entire process, from stimulating the ovaries to retrieving the eggs. This control improves the chances of fertilization and pregnancy.
3. Age Related Infertility
As women age, egg quantity and quality naturally decline, making conception more difficult and increasing the risk of miscarriage. 3
IVF is often recommended for women over 35 who have been trying to conceive without success, and it can be particularly helpful for those over 40.4
Using IVF, multiple eggs can be retrieved in a single cycle, and embryos can be tested through preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to identify those with the highest chance of resulting in a healthy pregnancy.
For women of advanced maternal age who don’t have viable eggs, IVF with donor eggs offers another path to getting pregnant and giving birth.
4. Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing pain and infertility. It can damage the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic environment, making natural conception more difficult. 5
IVF can improve chances of pregnancy by retrieving eggs directly from the ovaries, fertilizing them in the lab, and transferring embryos into the uterus, bypassing the areas affected by endometriosis.
5. Unexplained Infertility
In some cases, standard testing does not reveal a clear cause for difficulty conceiving. This is known as unexplained infertility and can be frustrating for couples.
IVF can help overcome unexplained infertility by controlling every stage of conception, increasing the likelihood that sperm and egg will meet and develop into a healthy embryo.
6. Male Factor Infertility
Infertility is not solely a woman’s issue. Male factors such as low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal sperm shape can make natural conception challenging.
- For about 30% of couples, infertility is caused primarily by a male factor (such as low sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology, or blockages).
- In another 20%, both male and female factors contribute.
- That means that, overall, male-related causes play a role in about half of all infertility cases.
IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) allows a single healthy sperm to be injected directly into the egg, improving fertilization rates.
For women whose partner’s fertility challenges are significant, IVF with ICSI can offer the best chance of achieving pregnancy. 6
7. Genetic Concerns
Some women carry genetic conditions they do not wish to pass on to their children. IVF with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) allows embryos to be screened for specific genetic disorders before transfer.
Some of the most common disorders to screen for include:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Tay–Sachs disease
- Sickle cell anemia
- Fragile X syndrome
- Huntington’s disease
- Thalassemia
Only embryos free of the condition are selected, reducing the risk of passing on hereditary illnesses.
8. Fertility Preservation
IVF technology is also used for egg and embryo freezing, a form of fertility preservation. Women may choose to freeze their eggs for personal, medical, or professional reasons, such as:
- Undergoing cancer treatment that could affect fertility
- Delaying parenthood until a later age
- Waiting for the right partner or life circumstances
When they are ready to conceive, the frozen eggs or embryos can be thawed, eggs and be fertilized, and embryos can be transferred through IVF.
9. Same-sex Female Couples
For same-sex female couples, IVF offers several family-building options, including reciprocal IVF, where one partner provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancy. 8
This allows both partners to be physically involved in the conception process.
10. Single Women by Choice
Single women who wish to become mothers may choose IVF with donor sperm. For those with reduced fertility or other medical considerations, IVF can provide a higher chance of pregnancy compared to intrauterine insemination (IUI).
11. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Women who have experienced multiple miscarriages may turn to IVF with PGT to help identify chromosomally healthy embryos, reducing the risk of miscarriage and improving the chances of a successful pregnancy. 10
12. Previous Fertility Treatment Failures
When less invasive treatments such as fertility medications or IUI have not resulted in pregnancy, IVF may be recommended as the next step. IVF offers more control, more information about embryo quality, and higher success rates in many cases.
What to Expect with IVF
While the specific protocol varies by patient, most IVF treatments follow these essential steps:
- Ovarian stimulation with injectable medications to produce multiple eggs.
- Egg retrieval performed under light sedation.
- Fertilization in the lab, often using ICSI if needed.
- Embryo development over several days.
- Embryo transfer into the uterus.
- Luteal phase support, often with progesterone supplementation, until pregnancy is confirmed and stable.
Is IVF Right for You?
Every woman’s fertility journey is unique. If you are experiencing difficulty conceiving, have a known medical condition affecting fertility, or are considering family-building options outside of natural conception, IVF may be worth exploring.
At CNY Fertility, we offer comprehensive fertility evaluations, personalized treatment planning, and affordable IVF pricing to make your path to parenthood as smooth and accessible as possible. Schedule a consultation today.
Top Reasons for Women to Use IVF: Bottom Line
There are many reasons for women to use IVF, from overcoming medical challenges to choosing the timing and circumstances for starting a family. Whatever your reason, IVF offers advanced, proven tools to help you achieve your dream of becoming a parent.
