Share

Aspirin has no effect on IVF success

Women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are often told that a daily aspirin will help boost the odds of success. But a new research review found no evidence that it works.

Combining the results of 13 international studies, researchers found that a low daily dose of aspirin had no clear effect on IVF pregnancy or birth rates.

Three of the studies looked at birth rates. Of 525 women who used aspirin during their IVF treatment cycle, 108 gave birth. But the odds of success were similar among women not given aspirin; of those 528 women, 119 gave birth.

Aspirin boosts blood flow to ovaries

"Couples undergoing IVF often feel so desperate that they are prepared to try anything that may improve their chances of conceiving," said lead researcher Dr Charalambos Siristatidis, of the University of Athens in Greece.

"But given the current evidence," he said, "there is still no basis to recommend that women take aspirin to help them become pregnant."

The researchers reported their findings in the Cochrane Library.

In theory, aspirin could improve IVF success by boosting blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. It might also help by preventing blood clots in the placental vessels. But studies have come to mixed conclusions.

Embryo quality affects IVF

There is a small minority of women who have repeat miscarriages because of problems with blood clotting, said Dr Roger Lobo, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Columbia University in New York, who was not involved in the review.

If a woman undergoing IVF has blood-clotting issues, then aspirin or other anticoagulants may help, said Dr Lobo, who is also president of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

But for most women having IVF, he said, "It’s really the embryo quality that's the major factor. So I'm not surprised that aspirin shows no benefit overall."

The studies in the review included a total of 2,653 women undergoing IVF. The trials randomised women to take 80 to 100 milligrams of aspirin per day, and the other half were assigned to a no-aspirin control group.

Aspirin may cause gastrointestinal bleeding

In most studies, women started taking aspirin at the beginning of the IVF process. The duration of the treatment varied from study to study.

One of the larger studies that looked only at pregnancy rates did suggest a benefit, the researchers note. Of 300 women, the pregnancy rate among aspirin users was 45%, versus 28% of women not on aspirin.

But when the researchers combined the results of different studies, they found no overall effect on women's pregnancy or birth rates, or on their risk of miscarriage.

Like Dr Siristatidis, Dr Lobo too noted that many couples undergoing infertility treatment are desperate to try anything that could raise their chances of having a baby, even in theory. But he stressed that even low-dose aspirin can have risks, including gastrointestinal bleeding.

"Based on the evidence, there really appears to be no benefit from using aspirin," Dr Lobo said. "And if you add to that the fact that there are risks, it probably shouldn't be done."

(Reuters Health, August 2011)

Read more:

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Aspirin

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE