Would You Like to Know More About IVF Success Rates?

Did you know that one in eight U.S. couples is affected by infertility? Thankfully, in-vitro fertilization (or IVF), is the number one avenue sought by infertile couples wanting to have children. A normal IVF cycle typically lasts 6-8 weeks and involves the following:

-A woman takes fertility medications to hyperstimulate her ovaries
-A trigger injection is done of the medicine which causes the eggs to enter the final maturation stage
-A harvest of the eggs and sperm
-The embryos are grown in a laboratory
-The embryos are implanted into the uterus
-Remaining embryos are cryopreserved

IVF Success Rates

When looking at the success rates of IVF, there are a few factors that stand out. The clinic used has a big part to play, and every fertility clinic must report their success rate to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is in accordance with the Fertility Clinic Success Rates Act. If you would like to look at the national summary data, you can visit the CDC website.

Our Utah Fertility Center team is pleased to offer our patients excellent pregnancy rates and outcomes. As such, we belong to the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and follow their strict guidelines, which you can review.

Factors Impacting IVF Success

Age. So what affects the success of IVF treatment? A woman’s age is one of the biggest factors affecting the outcome of in vitro fertilization. A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. Over time, her egg reserve diminishes which we refer to as her biological clock. The average age when female fertility begins to decline more rapidly is around 35 years of age. If a woman is using her own eggs for the IVF cycle, the IVF success rate can drop to less than 15% after she is 40 years old. If she is in her mid-40’s, this drops to less than 5%. Multiple IVF cycles may be needed, and using donor eggs can radically improve the odds for a successful IVF cycle. Men, on the other hand, produce sperm and can have children well past their fourth decade of life.

All Necessary Ingredients. In addition to healthy eggs, sperm must be present for fertilization to occur. In vitro fertilization places the egg and sperm much closer together and sperm can even be injected directly into the egg to enhance fertilization. These advantages remove many of the barriers sperm typically face in natural conception, and is a big reason natural conception has a much lower success rate.

Lifestyle. Another factor that can impact IVF success rates are lifestyle choices. Smoking is directly harmful for both sexes, and another is body mass index (BMI). If a woman is either overweight or underweight, this can hinder the absorption of the fertility medications on her ability to conceive and carry the gestating infant to term. Regular excercise and a healthy diet can lead to a better chance of a positive pregnancy.

Prior Pregnancy. If a woman has achieved a prior pregnancy (with or without fertility treatments), this increases her odds of successful IVF.

For women experiencing fertility issues, due to problems with ovulation, blockages in the fallopian tubes or endometriosis, or her partner has a low sperm count, conception increases with the help of IVF. Our specialists at Utah Fertility Center in Pleasant Grove, Murray, Ogden, and St. George, Utah, are ready to help you receive the best fertility care possible. Our Reproductive Endocrinologists are board-certified and are here to provide you with the emotional support and treatment tailored to your unique needs.