What is the Success Rate of IVF on the First Try

Success Rate of IVF on the First Try

Infertility is an issue that needs to be approached with caution and the right facts. Many women who suffer from the same wonder if the treatment is worth trying and if their chances of succeeding the first time they try are high.

This article seeks to help such women find answers, so if you are one of them, you may want to keep reading.

What are the Chances of Succeeding on the First Try

For IVF to succeed, several factors have to be considered and these include the technique, type, infertility diagnosis, and age among others.

Even then, the chances of a successful treatment do not guarantee that you will become pregnant or carry a healthy baby to term.

Trying to conceive naturally is generally easier and less expensive than going through IVF. Nevertheless, IVF is perhaps the only way out for some couples who want to conceive.

Now, understanding your condition and knowing your options will go a long way in helping you make the best decision.

IVF success rates are often reported as live birth rates per cycle. A cycle refers to the number of eggs retrieved from the uterus during an embryo transfer procedure.

These statistics show how many women out of 100 successfully give birth after undergoing one complete IVF cycle (excluding multiple births).

With IVF, the overall live birth rate is about 29.5% per cycle. This means that if 100 women undergo IVF treatment, 22 will have a baby by the end of one cycle, while 78 will not be successful.

Of course, some may opt to freeze their remaining embryos for future attempts.

Why Would IVF Fail to Work the First Time

Infertility is a prevalent issue globally. The main cause is ovulation disorders, but many other factors can affect a couple’s chance of success when undergoing IVF treatment.

The number one reason for IVF failure the first time is due to “poor embryo quality”.

This is where the sperm fuses with an egg and a baby begins to form. However, because of poor egg quality, embryos may not survive as they normally would outside of the body.

Another factor that determines the success rate of IVF is the age of the woman undergoing the procedure. It’s been shown that a woman’s fertility decreases with age.

Therefore, if she were to become pregnant and have a miscarriage, the embryo would not have developed properly, and the chances of a miscarriage occurring would be higher.

A woman’s eggs may become genetically damaged as they age, so while there are success stories, it is more likely that a younger woman will have a better chance of having a successful pregnancy.

If you are considering IVF treatment, it’s best to do so sooner rather than later. Although not everyone agrees with this recommendation, many doctors agree that time is essential for IVF success rates.

IVF has a high failure rate in women over 40 years old. The older a woman is, the more difficult it becomes for her to get pregnant.

After age 43, the success rate of IVF cycles significantly decreases, far below 60%, reflecting the challenges of decreased egg quality and reserve.

This makes it difficult for older women to conceive naturally and leads to more miscarriages than normal.

Finally, IVF can fail due to a lack of communication between the couple. The most common cause is when one partner feels that the other is not doing enough to get pregnant.

While communication can support the emotional aspects of undergoing IVF, success primarily depends on medical, biological, and sometimes genetic factors. A couple should talk openly with each other rather than keeping thoughts and feelings bottled up inside.

This allows them to express concerns and fears, which can help them work together as a team.

Bottom Line

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a complex medical procedure that can help you get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby.

IVF is recommended based on specific infertility diagnoses and situations and can be recommended sooner for certain conditions.

Ultimately, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a woman’s chance of conceiving by in vitro fertilization (IVF) increases with each attempt.

IVF Grants in the U.S.

See Also

IVF Due Date Calculator

IVF Gender Selection

Reciprocal IVF Grants

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Current Version
December 22, 2021
Written By
Shubham Grover
March 29, 2024
Updated By
Franco Cuevas, MD

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