Fertility problems: assessment and treatment

Recommendation ID: CG156/1
Question: Expectant management before IVF:- What is the optimum period of expectant management for women of different age groups before invasive treatment such as IVF is considered?
Any explanatory notes (if applicable): Why this is important:- Where there is no known cause for infertility, expectant management increases the cumulative chances of successful conception. However, the chances of a live birth both by natural conception and by using assisted reproductive technology decline with advancing age because of a woman's decreasing ovarian reserve. The guideline currently recommends a shorter period of expectant management for women who are 36 years or older. This is a very crude cut-off. If there were better evidence it might be possible to customise the period of expectant management based on a woman's age, including longer periods of expectant management for younger women.

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Is this a recommendation for the use of a technology only in the context of research?	No
Is it a recommendation that suggests collection of data or the establishment of a register?	No
Last Reviewed	27/02/2013