How Do I know if IVF has Been Successful?

While many couples conceive quickly and naturally, others will experience problems for a variety of reasons. After trying to conceive for some time without result, and initial tests with their gynecologist, a patient will likely seek the help of a reproductive endocrinologist and a fertility treatment center.

After the patient is thoroughly evaluated and the problem(s) identified, a treatment plan is developed specific to those problems. In most cases, a fertility treatment center will start with the least invasive treatments, such as fertility drugs like Clomid or Femara, first. In some cases, such as those where infertility is caused by blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, surgical intervention is likely.

When initial interventions have failed, most specialists will recommend in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. While the process is not easy, for some couples, it offers the best chance at becoming pregnant. Because IVF success rates vary in individual fertility treatment centers and since the treatments involve considerable cost, it is important to research your fertility treatment center’s statistics and treatment philosophy.

When is it Time to Test?
Depending on the fertility treatment center policy, embryo transfer usually occurs within five days after the egg(s) is fertilized. The embryo will implant in the uterine wall, if successful, and a pregnancy, or failure, will be detectable after two weeks. A pregnancy test will be administered at the fertility treatment center though many choose to also test using a home pregnancy test.

What are the Success Rates?
One of the biggest concerns for those in the IVF process, is whether or not it will be successful for them. Success is dependent on many factors, many of which the patient has little control. Factors such as age of the patient and causes of infertility as well as the level of expertise of the lab staff will all play a role. Success rates for individual fertility treatment centers can be found at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) websites. While the success rates are helpful in choosing a clinic and in weighing a decision in which treatments to pursue, they can not determine whether or not an individual patient will be successful in becoming pregnant.

A New Test on the Horizon
Recently, scientists in Dublin, Ireland have identified special biomarkers that can help predict whether IVF treatment will be successful for individual patients. The simple blood test indicate whether or not an embryo is likely to implant successfully and the body’s response to treatment. Currently, only basic medical information such as a patient’s age and the cause of infertility are used as baseline indicators. Since infertility is such an emotional and costly journey, the possibility of saving much grief and money is very  attractive to many.  Advocates feel such a test could give the patient an added tool, help patients decide whether or not IVF is for them, or whether or not to pursue additional IVF treatments. It is unknown when such a test will be available in US fertility treatment centers but many groups are already pushing for widespread usage.