What is IVF success rates, and how should you read them?

We have seen and heard in the market or on the websites, fertility clinics using the term IVF Success Rate. The success rate is most commonly referred to when people want to know how likely it will be to bear a baby. But more often than not, the success rate is highly manipulated and could mean several things. Thus it becomes essential to study success rates carefully.

Where does the success rate come from?
In general, the IVF success rates come from the clinics themselves or through reports published by India’s government medical authorities or in research papers.

Which success rates matter?
People tend to look at figures like 99% success rate and believe them blindly. And we understand that for a couple dreaming of parenthood, all success rates matter. Therefore what you should consider is the live birth rates only. We know that pregnancy is a sign of success, but real success comes in the form of a healthy squealing baby.

Trends in IVF success rates

The age of the female partner plays a significant role in conception, primarily when own eggs are being used for fertility treatment. Egg quality starts declining after the age of 35, a condition is medically known as “aneuploidy.” with the decline in age, success rates of fertility treatments also drop.

According to a research paper published on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), success rates trends are as follows:

Age       Live Birth Rates
<35       50-55%
>40       24-25%

We can see that before the age of 35, women’s chances of having a baby are between 50-55%. The chances of having a baby significantly decrease after the age of 40. Which further declines at a steep rate of 10% every year with the increase in age. However, these rates are only centred around those who are using their own eggs. In the case of choosing to use donor eggs, success rates of IVF are drastically different even for women above the age of 40.

Don’t be distracted by the fertility rates that are plastered everywhere, instead talk to your doctor and gain a real understanding of what IVF actually entails and come to a conclusion of your own will. Having doubts about IVF? Consult Dr. Roshi Satija, an expert IVF specialist, call on 9958722133.