Research into natural pregnancy after IVF
Dr Annette Thwaites (1995, Engineering) led a study at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London, which found that at least one in five women may conceive naturally after having a baby using IVF.
Dr Thwaites led this unprecedented research, published earlier this year in the journal Human Reproduction, which analysed the data of over 5,000 women collected between 1980 and 2021 to determine how common it is for women to get pregnant naturally after having a baby conceived by fertility treatment.
The research team aimed to highlight this possibility of becoming pregnant naturally following fertility treatment. It is typically considered ‘rare’ for women who have previously undergone fertility treatment to conceive naturally, but Dr Thwaites and her team show otherwise. They consider the findings important in raising awareness, since many women are unaware and may become pregnant again quickly or when they are not ready following treatment.
Dr Thwaites said, "Our findings suggest that natural pregnancy after having a baby by IVF is far from rare. This is in contrast with widely held views – by women and health professionals – and those commonly expressed in the media, that it is a highly unlikely event".
The research has received wide coverage in the press, including articles in The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph, BBC News and Sky News. You can also listen to an interview with Andrew Marr on the Tonight show here.
- Dr Thwaites is an Honorary Research Fellow in Sexual and Reproductive Health at The Institute for Women's Heath, UCL. She graduated with a BA/MEng in Engineering at Jesus College before taking a graduate degree in Medicine at Wolfson College, Cambridge and was awarded her MD(Res) in 2022 on the contraceptive needs of women post successful in vitro fertilisation.
