IVF Success Rates: What You Need to Know!

IVF has come a long way since its introduction in 1978. Advancements in assisted reproductive technology have made IVF widely accessible worldwide, and as a result, IVF success rates have improved significantly over the years.¹ To celebrate and highlight its importance all over the world, World IVF Day is the perfect platform. It reminds us of the importance of IVF as a recommended fertility treatment for individuals and couples facing conception challenges.

Let's delve into why IVF is recommended and explore factors like age and embryo transfer influencing its success rates.

Why Is IVF Recommended?

In India, infertility affects around 10-15% of married couples, with approximately 27.5 million seeking treatment.² IVF is recommended for those facing unresolved fertility issues.³

IVF is recommended for a variety of reasons, including:³

• Monitoring fertility: IVF can be used to track a person's fertility and identify any potential problems. This can be helpful for people who are concerned about their fertility or who are planning to delay parenthood.
• Addressing age-related fertility decline: As people age, their fertility declines. IVF can help people who are older or who have delayed parenthood to conceive.
• Male-factor infertility: IVF can be used to help couples who are experiencing male-factor infertility. This is when there is a problem with the man's sperm that is preventing conception.
• Impacts of cancer therapy: IVF can be used to help couples who have undergone cancer therapy. Some cancer treatments can damage sperm or eggs, making it difficult to conceive naturally.
• Potential effects of surgical treatments on sperm health: IVF can be used to help couples who have undergone surgical treatments that could affect sperm health. For example, surgery for testicular or prostate cancer can damage sperm.

Now that we understand why IVF is important, let's have a look at its success rate

IVF Success Rate In India

In general, the success rate of IVF can vary depending on several factors, including the woman's age, the cause of infertility, and the quality of the eggs and sperm. Initially, IVF has had low success rates in the past. However, things have improved, and now it is successful in almost 50% of cases where the woman is younger than 35 years old. ⁴

The IVF success rate shows us how often IVF leads to a successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby. It may vary from person to person. However, with advances in technology and the availability of quality care, the chances of success rates are increasing.

As you know, the IVF success rate and its influencing factors are interrelated. Let's explore what those factors are.

Factors Impacting IVF Success Rates

Several factors can impact the success rates of IVF. These factors include:⁵

• Age of the women
• Quality of eggs and sperm
• Reproductive health
• Number of embryos transferred
• Embryo quality
• Lifestyle factors

As you know, the success rate of IVF is influenced by various factors. Let's take a brief look at how age and the number of embryos affect IVF success rates.

IVF Success Rates By Age 

The success rate of IVF treatment decreases with the woman's age. For example, the chance of having a live birth after IVF for women aged 40 or older ranges from 4.7% to 15.7%.⁶ Therefore, it is important to consider these age factors when exploring fertility treatment options, as they greatly influence the chances of success rate.⁶

IVF Success Rate By Number Of Embryos

The number of embryos transferred during IVF is a critical factor in determining the success of the treatment. While transferring more embryos increases the chances of pregnancy, it also raises the risk of multiple pregnancies and complications.

A study conducted two decades ago analyzed IVF treatments and live births to determine the optimal number of embryos to transfer based on a woman's age. The study found that women aged 20 to 34 had the highest success rates when two embryos were transferred, and any additional embryos were frozen for future use. For women 35 and older, transferring more than two embryos could improve success rates. However, younger women who transferred three embryos had a higher chance of twins, while women aged 40 to 44 had a twin rate below 25% even when five or more embryos were transferred.⁷

Ultimately, the best number of embryos to transfer depends on a woman's circumstances and preferences. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of different transfer strategies with a fertility specialist to find the personalised treatment for each patient.

Now that we have seen the factors affecting the success rate of IVF, let's look at some tips on how to improve the success rate.

How To Improve IVF Success Rates?

Here are some tips to improve the success rate of IVF: ^{8, 9}

• Fertility clinic: You should also ask about the clinic's success rates for different age groups and with different types of infertility. This will give you a better idea of how likely you are to succeed with IVF at that particular clinic.
• Healthy lifestyle: Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well, exercising, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT): PGT screening is another key factor in the journey towards parenthood. This screening test helps identify healthy embryos before transfer, which can significantly increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
• Starting IVF treatment at a younger age: As mentioned earlier, younger women have more eggs and better quality eggs, which can lead to higher success rates.
• Optimal ovarian stimulation: Work with your doctor to optimise ovarian stimulation for better egg retrieval.
• Having a good quality embryo: The quality of the embryo is one of the most important factors in determining the success of IVF. This is why it is important to have a good egg donor or to use your own eggs if they are of good quality.

Wrapping Up!

IVF may seem complex and expensive, but the happiness it brings is immeasurable. The journey to parenthood can be challenging, but with the right knowledge and support, you can achieve your dream. The IVF success rate has improved significantly over the years, and with the right treatment plan, you can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. 

If you are planning for parenthood later in your life for any reason, LifeCell can help you preserve your fertility and make your dream of having a family a reality.

LifeCell offers preservation and testing services such as SpermVault. It uses advanced cryopreservation technology to store and protect your sperm until you decide to have children in the future.

Alternatively, you may also consider services like LifeCell’s SpermScore and OvaScore when going for future IVF treatments. LifeCell’s SpermScore test is the most comprehensive semen analysis test that tests 10 different sperm health parameters and 14 sperm health conditions. LifeCell’s OvaScore kit helps women to test 9 hormones linked to their reproductive health. Additionally, it can also assess early menopause, PCOS, thyroid health, and other conditions.

So why wait? Start your journey towards parenthood with LifeCell's innovative fertility solutions today and turn your dreams of having a family into reality.

FAQs

Q1. At What Age Is IVF Successful?

IVF is more likely to be successful for younger women. Generally, women under 35 have higher chances of success with IVF. As women get older, the success rates of IVF gradually decrease.⁶

Q2. Are All IVF Babies Twins?

No, not all IVF babies are twins. While In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) can sometimes lead to multiple births when more than one embryo is transferred, having a single baby through IVF is also possible. The occurrence of twins or multiple births in IVF depends on various factors, including the number of embryos transferred and their development after implantation.¹⁰

Q3. Does IVF Have A 100% Success Rate?

No, IVF does not always work for everyone. The success of IVF can be different for each person. It depends on things like the age of the woman, the quality of the eggs and sperm, and fertility problems, if any. In cases, where the woman is younger than 35 years old, IVF is successful in nearly 50% of cases.^{4, 5} 

Q4. What Is The Success Rate Of IVF On The First Try?

In general, the success rate for the first cycle of IVF tends to be around 32% at age 25 years, 35% at age 30 years, 30% at age 35 years, 15% at age 40 years, and 5% at age 45 years.¹¹

Q5. Are IVF Babies Normal?

IVF babies, like naturally conceived babies, are typically healthy and normal. However, the chances of premature and high-risk births are higher with IVF. Fortunately, the use of pre-implantation diagnostic techniques can reduce the risk of passing on genetic diseases, leading to healthier outcomes for both parents and babies.¹²