Costly IVF Add-Ons Lack Proven Benefits, Study Reveals
Poinews.com – A recent investigation into 85 clinical trials has uncovered that most IVF “add-ons”—extra procedures, tests, and medications commonly paired with standard fertility treatments—fail to deliver significant benefits, according to new research. These add-ons, which often come with high patient costs, are frequently touted by private clinics despite limited evidence supporting their effectiveness.
Research Highlights Misinformation in Fertility Care
According to Sarah Lensen, a researcher at the University of Melbourne and lead author of the study, many patients are misled by promotional claims on clinic websites and social media forums. These platforms, which serve as primary sources of information, often exaggerate the advantages of add-ons while neglecting to highlight their financial and health risks.
“There is widespread misinformation about IVF add-ons, with private clinic websites and patient forums on social media—major information sources for patients—often overstating the benefits and omitting the costs and risks,” Lensen said.
The review identified that seven out of the ten most popular add-ons either showed no impact on fertility results or were backed by weak, low-quality evidence. Examples include acupuncture, anti-inflammatory drugs, uterine lining biopsies for gene expression analysis, and treatments involving soybean oil, egg yolk, and platelet-rich plasma, which are applied to the ovaries or uterus.
Furthermore, the study found insufficient proof to justify the use of pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), a method used to screen embryos for chromosomal issues prior to transfer. Only three add-ons demonstrated potential, though their benefits remain uncertain.
Possible Benefits of Select Add-Ons
EmbryoGlue, a substance containing hyaluronic acid designed to support embryo implantation, may slightly improve pregnancy and live birth chances. However, the evidence for these outcomes is not strong. Similarly, endometrial scratching—a technique that intentionally disrupts the uterine lining before embryo transfer—was linked to a marginal increase in successful pregnancies and births.
Physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI), a method to select more mature sperm, showed weak support for reducing miscarriage risk. Lensen emphasized that while these findings are promising, they require more rigorous validation.
“Unproven add-ons can lead to false hope, greater financial strain, and unnecessary medical procedures at what is already a very difficult time for patients,” Lensen said.
The research also noted that patients frequently rely on online resources to make treatment decisions. In Australia, nearly all surveyed individuals depended on fertility clinic websites, while over 60% used platforms like Facebook and Reddit to guide their choices.
Despite the lack of strong evidence, add-ons remain widely adopted. More than 70% of IVF patients in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom reported using at least one add-on during their treatment. To address this gap, the research team launched the Evidence-Based IVF website, offering independent insights into the efficacy of various add-ons.
“The website improved patients’ understanding of treatment options and increased satisfaction with the information available to them,” Lensen added.
She noted that the findings, developed in Australia, are relevant to IVF patients worldwide. The goal is to encourage fertility specialists and clinics to adopt this resource, ensuring patients receive accurate, evidence-driven guidance.
