The chances for IVF success have been very good for women who are younger and are using donor eggs for the treatment. The success rates are dependent with the age of the woman. When a woman gets older and if she is using her own eggs, the IVF success rates decline. It is most important that women should be are aware of the IVF success rates of the treatment they are about to undertake.
In 2007, the information that was gathered nationally about IVF success rates when a woman uses non-donor eggs shows the differences in ages and percentages of live births per cycle:
- women younger than 35 have 39.6% live births per cycle
- women whose ages are 35 to 37 have 30.5% live births per cycle
- women whose ages are 38 to 40 have 20.9% live births per cycle
- women whose ages are 41 to 42 have 11.5% live births per cycle
- women whose ages are 43 have 6.2% live births per cycle
- women whose ages are 44, only has 1% live births per cycle
Based on the information, IVF success significantly declines after age 40. Due to this observation, donor eggs are being used by women above 40. IVF success rates when using donor eggs are not as dependent on the woman's age. Using donor eggs which are fresh embryos has a higher percentage of live births per cycle compared with donor eggs that are frozen embryos. Donor eggs have higher success rates compared to women whose ages are 35 and lower and have used their own eggs. For some, women donor egg treatment may be the best chance to achieve a pregnancy.
Statistical records cannot be just the basis for the chances of IVF success, they only give an overview. IVF success depends on several elements such as the age of the woman, the causes for infertility, whether to use donor eggs/sperms or not, and the proficiency of the facilities that conduct such treatment.
Patients who undertake In Vitro Fertilization treatment have a number of points to consider. Before starting IVF treatment, one point to consider is the relative IVF success rates of fertility clinics. In the U.S., federal law requires fertility clinics to submit IVF success rate information to the Center for Disease Control every year.
IVF Success at Individual Clinics
The success rates of IVF clinics are dependent on a number of elements which include the patient's characteristics and treatment approaches. It is also important to know that pregnancy rates are not equal to live birth rates. When comparing success rates of different clinics, it is important to understand the type of pregnancies that are being compared. A chemical pregnancy is confirmed by blood or urine tests, but a miscarriage may happen before confirmation through an ultrasound. A clinical pregnancy is verified by ultrasound. After a clinical pregnancy has been verified, a miscarriage may still happen but less likely. You can look up IVF success rates for individual clinics. Make sure to compare their live birth rates, and not just their pregnancy rates.