Understanding IVF success rates

Introduction

In recent years, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has become an increasingly common solution for couples struggling with infertility. IVF offers hope to those who dream of starting or expanding their families, but understanding the factors that influence IVF success rates is essential for making informed decisions. One of the most significant factors affecting IVF outcomes is the age of the woman undergoing treatment. In this blog post, we will explore IVF success rates by age, the definition of success rate for IVF, and more.

What is the success rate for IVF, and which ratio to use?

The term success rate is commonly used in the medical literature advertised on the websites of fertility clinics, but it may mean different things depending on how it is measured. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Society for Reproductive Medicine (SART) both publish information on the success rates of fertility clinics. The data has slight discrepancies due to different numbers of clinics reported to the agency and differences in reporting deadlines and methods used. Due to the need to collect the data on subsequent transfers and birth (~2 years) and then perform the check of the submitted information, the agencies usually release the data after 2-3 years.

Only 79% of clinics included in the CDC report are SART members; that's why we prefer using CDC data that has a larger pool of information that they also perform an extensive check on.

What is the correct IVF success rate to use?

To estimate the chances of getting pregnant from IVF at a certain age, you should use "success rates for patients' own eggs."

For the success factor, you have options, but "live-birth from intended egg retrievals" shows you how many started IVF cycles resulted in a live birth and it includes cumulative information on all transfers that takes places within 1 year after retrieval. That is important to understand because the cycle can be canceled before retrieval; not all of the eggs retrieved can be mature and fertilized, and not all of them will result in successful transfer and birth. This ratio gives you the full picture from start to finish. 

Unfortunately, agencies do not let you easily compare clinics to between each other and the national level, but you can do that easily with our database and also check information on pricing and reviews of different fertility centers.

IVF Success Rates by Age

IVF success rates can vary significantly based on the age of the woman undergoing treatment. Below, you can find the IVF success rates by age as recently reported by the CDC at a national level:

      Under 35: Women under the age of 35 typically have the highest IVF success rates. The average live birth rate for women in this age group is around 51.1% per IVF cycle.

• 35-37: IVF success rates start to decline slightly in the late 30s, with an average success rate of 37.1% per cycle.
• 38-40: In this age range, IVF success rates decrease further to around 23.7% per cycle.
• Over 40: For women over 40, the chances of success drop significantly, with average success rates of 7.6% per cycle.

It's essential to keep in mind that these are approximate figures, and individual outcomes may vary based on various factors, including overall health, underlying conditions, and the specific IVF protocol used.

IVF Success Rates by Clinic

Another crucial factor in IVF success is the choice of a fertility clinic. IVF success rates can vary from one clinic to another due to differences in treatment protocols, expertise of the medical team, and patient population. To make an informed decision, research and compare the success rates of clinics in your area. 

Keep in mind that while high success rates are appealing, other factors, such as the clinic's approach to patient care and support, should also be considered. You can get a sense of the level of care by reading reviews from other patients. In our platform, we made it easy to evaluate success rates, reviews, and prices.

Conclusion

IVF success rates by age provide a general overview of what to expect during fertility treatment, but every journey is unique. Remember that you are not alone in this journey, and there is a supportive community of individuals and professionals ready to assist you in your pursuit of a family. If you need help choosing a fertility center or support throughout your fertility journey, our fertility advisors would be happy to help you.

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