My Journey with Cushing’s disease
At 30 years old, I was fit, healthy and naturally a size 8–10. I knew my body well, which is why, when it started to
Age, stress, medical conditions, and your reproductive history all play a significant factor in your ability to conceive; however, as science and medicine progress, reproductive treatments have become a popular option for people wanting the chance to have a baby.
This is where In vitro fertilization (IVF) comes into play. IVF is a form of fertility treatment where an egg is removed and fertilized outside of the womb before being returned to the uterus.
But what is the IVF success rate? And, is there anything you can do to ensure you’re setting yourself up for a win?
The chances of success for any one patient will depend on their particular diagnosis, along with their (and their partner’s, in the case of hetero couples) individual medical history and age. Success rates will also vary from fertility clinic to fertility clinic and from country to country.
However, data gathered by the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK suggests the success rates are as follows:
Meanwhile, in the USA, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) states success rates are:
Research by the University of New South Wales in Australia for VARTA (the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority) tracking women undergoing IVF found 48% of patients aged 30-31 had a baby after one stimulated IVF cycle. This increased to 61% after two cycles and 67% after three cycles.
In comparison, women who started treatment aged 34-35 had a 40% chance of a baby after one cycle, a 54% chance after two cycles and a 6% chance after three cycles. For women aged 40-41 when they started, there was a 13% chance of a baby after one cycle, a 21% chance after two cycles, and a 25% chance after three cycles.
Interestingly, the results show most people who go through IVF, regardless of their age, do not have a baby after one treatment cycle.
With all these statistics in mind, you might be wondering what you can do to ensure you’re a positive part of the success rates. We’ll delve into this below.
Firstly, it might sound obvious but you need to ensure you understand exactly what IVF treatment is and which form of IVF is likely to yield the best results for you as an individual.
The most common options are:
Traditional IVF protocols: You’ll take various medications to encourage your egg follicles to mature and prevent premature ovulation. A procedure then takes place to collect as many mature eggs as possible.
Mild stimulation IVF: You receive a low dose of fertility drugs over a shorter period of time. This might not be suitable for those whose ovaries, for a variety of reasons, might need an extra boost to achieve stimulation.
Natural cycle IVF: This involves no fertility drugs at all. The one egg you release as part of your regular monthly cycle is taken and mixed with sperm. This is unlikely to be successful for those with conditions such as PCOS who do not regularly ovulate.
In vitro maturation (IVM): Your eggs are removed while they’re immature and allowed to mature in the laboratory, meaning you often don’t have to take any hormones. This is a popular option for those where controlled ovarian stimulation is not viable.
When you meet with your clinic and discuss protocol options, you will undergo multiple tests and you will answer questions about your medical history. This is to ensure you’re healthy enough to undergo treatment as well as determine if IVF is likely to be successful.
So, what factors will your fertility doctor look at that can affect the success of your IVF?
Your age will likely play the biggest role in determining your rate of IVF success. The younger you are the higher your chance for success, with women over the age of 40 being counseled to think about using donor eggs during IVF to boost their chances.
Transferring highly developed embryos is linked with higher pregnancy rates than more imature embryos. However, not all embryos survive the development process, and not all will mature to an advanced stage before implantation.
Research suggests that if you have given birth previously, you are more likely to have a successful IVF treatment cycle.
Research suggests people who have severe endometriosis are less likely to be able to get pregnant using IVF than those who have unexplained infertility. Plus, studies suggest PCOS is linked to a higher risk of miscarriage, as are hormone imbalances such as Hashimoto’s disease. However, this does not mean a successful pregnancy is impossible, and your doctor can help advise on how to approach this.
Smoking, obesity, and the use of alcohol, drugs, excessive caffeine, and certain medicines can reduce the chances of getting pregnant and having a baby.
We wish we could wave a magic wand and ensure your IVF cycle is successful but, the truth is, there is nothing you can do to guarantee a positive outcome—sometimes, the results are out of your hands.
However, here are some ideas to help you to keep healthy and potentially increase your chances of IVF success:
Keep track of your BMI (Body Mass Index), use recommended supplements, and try to maintain a healthy level of Vitamin D and folic acid, which studies have shown impact IVF success rates.
Research is key to choosing your clinic. It is worth looking at reviews for any clinic you might be considering. If you’re in the UK, ensure your clinic is recognized by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and follows their guidelines. If you’re based elsewhere, look for your own country’s official guidelines and registry.
Experiencing some stress and anxiety during IVF is inevitable, but make sure you have a support system around you so your mental health is handled alongside your physical health. Perhaps try meditation, hypnotherapy, or mindfulness?
It goes without saying that none of the above is great when trying to conceive! If you can’t quit, at least try to limit how much you are having.
It’s debatable, but some studies show acupuncture for fertility increases the success rate of live births from IVF treatment. A study in the International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine found women who used acupuncture during their treatment had a success rate of 38% compared to 28.7% for those that did not. Acupuncture has been shown to regulate fertility hormones, increase the number of eggs, and optimize the uterine environment, as well as reduce stress and anxiety.
Factors like your reproductive history, lifestyle choices, and even the number of IVF cycles you’ve experienced play a part in determining your chances of success. However, research shows that your age largely determines whether your IVF cycle is likely to be successful.
Although IVF success rates have tripled in the last decade, when researching which fertility clinic to use, I highly recommend looking at their own rates of success. You can find this out by reading reviews, talking to your support circles, and checking out the HFEA. If you’re over the age of 40, success through IVF is possible, but it may be worth researching alternative fertility treatments or egg donation to boost your chances.
References:
Dabbagh Rezaeiyeh, R., Mehrara, A., Mohammad Ali Pour, A., Fallahi, J., & Forouhari, S. (2022). Impact of Various Parameters as Predictors of The Success Rate of In Vitro Fertilization. International Journal of Fertility & Sterility, 16(2), 76–84. doi.org/10.22074/IJFS.2021.531672.1134
Dehghani, A. S., Homayouni, K., Kanannejad, Z., & Kanannejad, Z. (2020). The effect of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer on the in vitro fertilization outcomes: An RCT. International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine, 18(3), 209–214. doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v18i3.6719
Eskew, A. M., & Jungheim, E. S. (2017). A History of Developments to Improve in vitro Fertilization. Missouri Medicine, 114(3), 156–159.
Guven, P. G., Cayir, Y., & Borekci, B. (2020). Effectiveness of acupuncture on pregnancy success rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled trial. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 59(2), 282–286. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32127151
McMahon, C., Hammarberg, K., Lensen, S., Wang, R., Mol, B.W., Vollenhoven, B.J.N., (2024). What do women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) understand about their chance of IVF success?, Human Reproduction, 39(1). 130–138. doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dead239
National Health Service (NHS) nhs.uk/conditions/ivf/
Penn Medicine. IVF By the Numbers. pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/fertility-blog/2018/march/ivf-by-the-numbers
VARTA. How likely are you to have a baby after one, two or three IVF cycles? Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority. varta.org.au/resources/news-and-blogs/how-likely-are-you-have-baby-after-one-two-or-three-ivf-cycles
Xu, M., Zhu, M. & Zheng, C. (2024). Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 309, 775–788. doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-07142-1
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