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Do you want the full picture of what’s possible for your IVF (in vitro fertilization) journey?
If you’re considering IVF or have already done a cycle, you should know the ins and outs of IVF success rates. Of course, each woman’s situation is unique. But there are multiple factors that affect the ultimate outcome of an IVF cycle.
Keep reading to learn about all the factors that could affect your chances of live birth with IVF.
What determines IVF success?
First of all, let’s get clear on what “IVF success” means. A successful IVF cycle is one that results in a live birth.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s zoom out to see all the major players that affect IVF success.
Main Factors that Impact IVF Success Rates
- Number of IVF cycles previously attempted
- Age
- Quality of the patient’s fertility clinic
- Health factors like underlying medical conditions, BMI, hormone health, and sperm health
Let’s continue to explore each of these key factors individually. We’ll begin with success rates by cycle.
What’s the success rate by IVF cycle?
The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology’s report gives predictions for the chance of live birth with an intended egg retrieval.
Based on their report, here’s what to expect for the success rate of the first embryo transfer.
As you look at the chart above, remember that these numbers reflect data for just the first IVF cycle. There is some good news though when it comes to doing successive transfers.
Studies have found that a higher number of IVF cycles leads to greater chances of live births for women under 40. Sadly though, there was no significant difference for women 40 or older.
Another study looked at the cumulative rate of success across multiple IVF cycles. For women 42 and under, they found that success rates increased up until the eighth or ninth cycle. And for women over 42 using their own eggs, the cumulative success rate increased up until the fourth or fifth cycle.
The number of IVF cycles isn’t the only factor that determines success rates though. In the next section, we’ll talk about how age comes into play.
What’s the success rate of IVF by age?
A woman’s age is one of the strongest predictors of IVF success. Women under 35 have the highest IVF live birth rates. And the odds of successfully conceiving with ART do decrease with advanced maternal age.
Below you’ll see the chance of having a live birth per egg retrieval depending on your age. (This is from a report conducted by SART.)
If you’re in one of the older age categories depicted in this chart, don’t lose hope. Remember, age isn’t the only factor at play. But in the spirit of transparency, let’s delve into why age matters so much for IVF.
While the exact cause is unknown, here are the best guesses for why fertility declines over time:
- Decreasing ovarian reserve (ovarian reserve refers to how many eggs you have that are high quality)
- Lower rates of embryo implantation
- Altered hormonal environment that can lead to uterine problems and ovulatory issues
Regardless of your age when undergoing IVF, there are more pieces to the puzzle. In the next section, we’ll discuss how your fertility clinic factors into your chances of success.
What’s the success rate of IVF by clinic?
Not all fertility clinics are made equal. The experience and reputation of your IVF clinic is something to consider.
A higher quality fertility clinic could boost your likelihood of success with IVF. This is especially important in the beginning stages. Let’s see why this is.
The fertilized eggs require an optimal environment in order to develop properly. The factors that need to be just right include temperature, oxygen levels, humidity, and nourishment. So what happens if any of these factors are off? The embryos risk losing their quality and have a lower chance of implantation.
Achieving this environment can be challenging, and it requires quality resources. That’s why at lower quality fertility clinics, this is often the stage where an IVF cycle fails.
Curious to know the success rates for your fertility clinic? Or other clinics across the United States? Check out the CDC website. Just click on a state, and it will show you all the registered fertility clinics for that state.
While you may be somewhat limited with how far you can travel for an IVF cycle, this information is helpful to know. And more importantly, it can help you make an informed decision about where you want to receive IVF care.
Another factor related to the fertility clinic you use is the type of embryo transfer. We’ll dive more into this next.
What’s the difference in IVF success rates for fresh vs. frozen embryo transfers?
As you know, there are many steps in the IVF process. One of these is the timing of the embryo transfer, and there are two options.
The first option is called a fresh embryo transfer. This is when the embryo (or embryos) is transferred within 3 to 5 days of the egg retrieval. But this timing isn’t always possible in a lot of cases.
So another option is called a frozen embryo transfer. In this type of transfer, the woman’s eggs are frozen right after the egg retrieval procedure. Then when she’s ready for the transfer, the embryo (or embryos) can be thawed.
As of now, the research is a bit mixed on the role of transfer type in IVF success. Some studies, like this one, have observed higher rates of live births in fresh embryo transfers.
But other studies have found that IVF live birth rates didn’t vary based on transfer type. In fact, one study found that though the birth rates didn’t vary, the frozen embryo transfers led to a decreased risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
And another study had similar findings. For those who were high responders to ovarian hyperstimulation (meaning more than 15 eggs were retrieved in the egg retrieval process), the frozen embryo was more beneficial. But for intermediate or low ovarian hyperstimulation responders (6-14 eggs and less than 5 eggs were retrieved respectively), this transfer type made no difference.
So what does all of this mean? There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing to do a frozen embryo transfer or a fresh embryo transfer. Consult your fertility doctor to discuss which option is best for you.
How can I increase my odds of IVF success?
There are certainly some factors like age that unfortunately you cannot control. But that doesn’t mean everything is totally out of your hands.
As we already mentioned, you can start by choosing a high quality fertility clinic. And remember, your overall health plays an important part in fertility too.
So here are some additional steps you can take to care for your health and give yourself the best chance possible:
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
Good dietary habits help you maintain a healthy weight. If you’re looking to adopt healthier food choices, consider this. One study followed women who were about to begin IVF treatment. They found that those who consumed a Mediterranean diet were 65-85% more likely to have better embryo quality.
Pro tip: A MediDiet includes lots of legumes, nuts, fish, fruits, veggies, cereals, fish, and olive oil. And it keeps meat, poultry, dairy products, and saturated fats to a minimum.
- Incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
Moving your body is a good way to manage stress. And it can also help keep you at a healthy BMI. 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day is a great goal to aim for.
- Manage your stress levels.
Different methods work for different individuals. But consider any of these options to relieve stress:
- Meditation
- Deep breathing
- Tapping
- Engaging in activities you enjoy
- Adequate rest and nutrition
- Get enough quality sleep.
Sleep is often an overlooked aspect of health. But catching enough Z’s can keep stress levels down and ensure your immune system works properly.
Should I be worried about my IVF success rate based on my age?
Just because you are older in age doesn’t mean you won’t be able to have a successful pregnancy. While age plays a big part in fertility and IVF chances, it’s not the only factor that matters.
Keep the other factors we discussed in mind. This includes tending to your overall health and opting for a quality fertility clinic. Another option you may consider is using donor eggs. This can help in cases of infertility where egg quality is low.
And if the stress of IVF gets too much, take a break if you need to. Sometimes stepping back to recharge your physical, mental, and emotional health can be game-changing. Then you can resume your IVF cycles when you’re feeling up to it again.
Also keep in mind there are other family-building options like surrogacy. With a surrogate, you can still use your eggs and your partner’s sperm. This is often a go-to option for those who have repeated implantation failure or uterine dysfunction.
Be sure to have a talk with your fertility doctor. They can support you in planning the best course of action based on your unique circumstances.
Want a more customized view of your unique chances for IVF?
SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) has a helpful online tool you can use. And it’s totally free!
This tool predicts your unique IVF success rate. All you have to do is provide the following personal info:
- Maternal age
- Weight and height
- Previous births
- Previous pregnancies
- Whether you plan to use your own eggs or donor eggs
- Your infertility diagnosis
Keep in mind that this is just a tool. It’s meant to give you a more personalized portrayal of your unique circumstances. Consult your doctor for more specific guidance.
Takeaways
- Being older doesn’t mean you can’t conceive with IVF. But as you age, the IVF transfer success rate declines.
- Trying IVF for multiple cycles can increase your chances of success. But the cumulative success rate increases more for women 42 and under.
- The quality of your fertility clinic and doing frozen embryo transfers vs. fresh embryo transfers matter too.
- Taking measures to improve your overall health may help. This includes things like eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, and managing stress.
- Infertility and assisted reproductive technology can feel overwhelming. But you are not alone in this. Please know that wherever you are on your TTC journey, the Inito community is here for you.
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- Transfers of lower quality embryos based on morphological appearance: National Library of Medicine
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Tap to relieve stress and burnout: National Library of Medicine
- Impact of Various Parameters as Predictors of The Success Rate of In Vitro Fertilization – PMC
- SART IVF Calculator – Opis_SART Pre IVF
- Female ageing and reproductive outcome in assisted reproduction cycles – PMC
- National Summary Report
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Data: Clinic | DRH | CDC
- Transfer of Fresh versus Frozen Embryos in Ovulatory Women | NEJM
- Freezing of all embryos in in vitro fertilization is beneficial in high responders, but not intermediate and low responders
- Cumulative Live-Birth Rates after In Vitro Fertilization | New England Journal of Medicine
- Live-Birth Rate Associated With Repeat In Vitro Fertilization Treatment Cycles | Neonatology | JAMA
- Mediterranean diet improves embryo yield in IVF: a prospective cohort study – PMC
- Sleep and immune function: National Library of Medicine
