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.

How successful is IUI?

For the patient experiencing fertility problems, the success rate of a treatment plays a major role when deciding on a course of treatment, as well as in the choice of fertility treatment centers. If fertility drugs have not been successful alone, many are faced with the option of IUI, intrauterine insemination, also known as AI or artificial insemination.

The Process Briefly Explained
The IUI treatment utilizes a catheter to insert washed sperm directly into the uterus. This increases the chances of sperm reaching the fallopian tubes, which increases the chance of fertilization.

The process may include medication to stimulate the ovaries and increase the production of eggs. The hormone hCG, or human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is then administered which stimulates the release of the eggs

The IUI fertility treatment is often a course of treatment considered by couples who have been unsuccessful  in conceiving after trying for a year or more. Most fertility treatment centers offer IUI as an option to treat conditions such as:

• sperm with decreased mobility
• low sperm count
• cervical conditions not conducive to sperm
• as the requirement of donor sperm
• sexual dysfunctions

Advantages of IUI
The advantages of this course of treatment include simplicity and comfort. Done by a specialist in the privacy of a fertility treatment center, the process is fast and involves little discomfort. The IUI process is also much more affordable than other ART technologies.

IUI Success Rates
The rates of success for IUI vary in studies, but in most are not very high and range from 4-20%. Women under the age of 35 experience more success than those over and for those for whom it is successful, it is so 10-20% of the time within one cycle. It is generally more successful in trying to overcome a problem with the cervical mucus than a problem with the quality of sperm. Many factors play a part in the rate of success of this treatment and include:

• age and health of woman
• health and mobility of sperm
• timing of insemination

Individual fertility treatment center’s success rates can be found at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website and may be helpful in choosing a fertility treatment center to begin the reproductive journey. It is also helpful to discuss the success rates of IUI and all reproductive treatments with others who have experienced them and can share in their own IUI Success Stories.

The Downside of IUI
One of the main concerns of the IUI is, when cycles have been stimulated, there is an increased risk of developing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, or OHSS. OHSS is developed when a woman’s body responds too well to the fertility drugs used to encourage ovulation, causing the ovaries to swell and leak fluid into the abdomen. Your physician will monitor for OHSS and the fertility treatment center may have a patient admitted to the hospital for a few days for observation as the ovaries come back to their normal state.

What is the Success Rate of IVF?

The journey through infertility requires a substantial investment both financially and emotionally, and it is no wonder why most patients want to know the facts upfront. One of the main concerns for patients considering in vitro fertilization (IVF),  is the success rate of the treatment as well as that of the fertility treatment center. Knowing these statistics can be very helpful in choosing a physician and fertility treatment center as well as planning a course of treatment.

General IVF Success Rates
According to data collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), the rate of pregnancy directly relates to the age of the patient.

• 30 years and younger, 50%
• 30-34 years, 48%
• 35-37 years, 45%
• 38-40 years, 35%
• 40 years and older, 14%

Where to Obtain IVF Success Rates
The rates for individual fertility treatment centers in each state can be found on the CDC and SART websites. Many fertility treatment centers also make that information available to the patient through their clinic materials and on their websites.

Understanding IVF Success Rates
While it is possible to obtain the general success rates as well as the rates of IVF success for individual fertility treatment centers, it is important to understand that there are many factors that play a role in those statistics. Fertility issues are complex, and calculating the rate of success the IVF treatment or a clinic’s success with IVF, is just as complex.

Many are surprised to find that SART does not use any system to independently verify each reporting fertility treatment center’s outcomes. While many clinics are reputable, and reporting IVF physicians are honest and make every effort to submit accurate results, there are still many factors which influence how those results are obtained, depending on the fertility treatment center’s philosophy of practice. Some of the factors that can influence a clinic’s success  include:

• Treating only the patients most likely to conceive
• Classifying the patients experiencing the highest levels of difficulty as “research patients” and therefore excluded from regular statistics
• Transferring larger numbers of embryos
• Reclassification of cycles

Success Rates for Individual Patients
All statistics are based on data gained from a population of people, including that for IVF success rates. However, each patient experiencing infertility comes with a unique set of circumstances that will directly impact their chances of achieving pregnancy which include:

• The particular issues surrounding the infertility
• Duration of infertility
• Age of woman
• Normalcy of uterus
• Quality of semen
• Success of cleavage in vitro
• Numbers of Embryos transferred

Increasing Individual IVF Success Rates
Because each patient is unique and success rates do not necessarily equate to the best care, patients should look for key indicators in a quality fertility treatment centers.

• The reputation of the lab within the medical community
• History and experience of the clinic
• The views of medical professionals outside the field of fertility
• The reviews of patients
• The philosophy of treatment

While it is difficult to truly calculate IVF success rates for the individual patient, understanding available statistics can help direct a patient in considering their options.