IVF Success Rates
At IVF FLORIDA, our fertility doctors and specialists strive to uphold the highest standards in our field of medicine. As an active member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART), we follow the guidelines and rules set forth by the organization, including the guidelines for advertising statistics.
Comparison of IVF success rates between and among practices is unreliable because there are many different factors that can influence a clinic's statistical success rates, including patient medical characteristics, treatment approaches, and entrance criteria for ART. For this reason, we are not permitted to use SART or CDC Clinic Specific Data that ranks or compares clinics or practices for any form of advertising or marketing, including this website. We are also unable to make comparisons of outcomes of our program to national averages published by either CDC or SART or any other program whether named or anonymous.
However, both patients and referring physicians have a right to know IVF pregnancy rates derived from programs in assisted reproduction. Accurate reporting of data assists in the formation of realistic expectations and promotes patient confidence in the integrity of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. At IVF Florida, we believe patient education about these complex techniques is an important component of the physician-patient relationship. Therefore, our south Florida fertility doctors will be happy to review and discuss our IVF success rates directly with prospective patients who are interested in treatment at our infertility clinics.
At IVF FLORIDA, we believe that, in most cases, women who desire to achieve pregnancy should be allowed that chance. We do not automatically eliminate patients who are likely to have trouble conceiving in order to improve the published statistics for our center. At IVF FLORIDA, doctors understand that of all the things you're worried about, there's one thing that matters most: getting pregnant.
Know the Facts about ART Statistics
What does it truly mean when an infertility doctor tells you they have a 50% pregnancy rate? In an effort to better understand the differences between fertility programs, it is critical to understand the components of an ART cycle and the complexity of the statistics fertility programs provide. The interpretation of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy rates can be very confusing for patients. First and foremost, patients should understand that a comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic. In an effort to better understand the differences between fertility programs, it is critical to understand the components of an ART cycle and to truly understand the complexity of the statistics fertility programs provide. IVF FLORIDA's philosophy is that pregnancy rates cannot be presented alone, but rather they should be presented with additional information on what is considered pregnancy and/or how many embryos are transferred at a time.
Why can pregnancy rates differ between fertility centers? IVF pregnancy rates can appear higher because a higher number of embryos are transferred, or infertility clinics may limit the type and age of patients they treat. To make sure the patient is comparing "apples to apples", the average number of embryos transferred should be presented. For example, a pregnancy rate that is 30% where an average of 2 embryos is transferred is not necessarily worse than a pregnancy rate that is 50% where an average of 4 embryos is transferred. In general, the number of embryos transferred increases as a woman gets older to compensate for the increasing chance that an older woman will have a miscarriage. IVF FLORIDA doctors adhere to SART guidelines related to the number of embryos to transfer. Pregnancy rates may also be negatively affected due to a higher number of canceled cycles or missing birth outcome data. This impact is discussed further below under Success Rates: Terminology.
Multiple gestations refer to a pregnancy in which two or more fetuses are present in the uterus. At IVF FLORIDA, our fertility specialists consider multiple gestations as a complication, even twins. However, given the nature of IVF and the desire to achieve a pregnancy, physicians will counsel and advise you on the number of embryos to return to your uterus based on your individual medical situation. IVF FLORIDA promotes single embryo transfer, where appropriate.
The statistics at SART.org present a clinical pregnancy rate which is defined to be a pregnancy that has been confirmed to have a good fetal heart rate at 7 weeks of gestation (or approximately 5 weeks after an embryo transfer). This pregnancy rate will always be lower than a pregnancy rate defined by a positive hormone or serum pregnancy rate because of the inevitable pregnancy loss rate that occurs in some women. In other words, not every positive pregnancy test at 4 weeks of gestation develops into a viable pregnancy with a good heartbeat 3 weeks later.
More information on pregnancy rates can be obtained from the Center for Disease Control and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART).
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to call 954.271.5434 or click here to request an appointment at one of our convenient South Florida fertility treatment clinics with an IVF FLORIDA physician.
Success Rates: Terminology
Cycle Start
Refers to all attempts at ovulation induction that are intended to lead to an IVF cycle. Cancellation of the cycle before the egg retrieval is attempted may occur if the stimulation is suboptimal. Some programs may not allow older women or men with a severe sperm abnormality to attempt an IVF cycle because these patients are more likely to have cycles canceled due to failure of ovulation induction and fertilization, respectively. Because our infertility treatment centers have a very high IVF pregnancy rate with ICSI, we accept men with severe sperm abnormalities, and we have been very successful even when sperm counts are under 100,000 with poor motility, as well as in cases of a failed vasectomy reversal.
IVF Egg Retrieval
Refers to the actual attempt to obtain the oocytes/eggs from the ovarian follicles. In order to develop a viable embryo, an egg retrieval procedure must be performed and fertilization with the sperm must occur in the embryology laboratory.
A Clinical Pregnancy
Refers to the identification of a pregnancy sac in the uterus. Unfortunately, there are times when a miscarriage may still subsequently occur. It is, therefore, important for patients to consider the live birth rate when evaluating a center's statistics.
Live Birth Rate
Per Transfer is known as the birth of one or more live infants as a result of an embryo transfer. This statistic can provide some insight into the probability of having a baby once a retrieval is performed.
Clinical Pregnancy Rate
Per Embryo Transfer is the statistic that reports the number of pregnancy sacs that appear in the uterus and comparing it with the number of embryos that were transferred into the uterus. The clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer may be a less significant statistic since it does not take into account the likelihood of miscarriage. In addition, cancelled cycles before retrieval or due to failure of fertilization are not factored into this statistic. The clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer can provide insight into the quality of a program, physician proficiency and is frequently used in the medical literature.
Donor Egg
IVF Cycles utilizing oocytes from anonymous or known donors. *NOTE: A comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic.
Success Rates: Statistics
Pregnancy rates are quite important to both the clinician and the patient. However, as noted above, it can be difficult to compare pregnancy rates between clinics and across the country because of a variety of different fertility diagnoses, ages, and prognoses. Pregnancy rate reports by SART are done so two years after they occur and many clinical changes can occur in the interim. At IVF FLORIDA we are holistic and inclusive in our delivery of care. We do not exclude women based on age, ovarian reserve, or prior cycle history. We do attempt to provide them with appropriate clinical guidance and expertise through their journey. In addition, we are an incredibly innovative practice and keep up with the latest technology. Therefore we have been continually refining our protocols to optimize outcomes.
Our most recent success rates are now available for your review at this LINK.
The rates on SART.org reflect patients with a variety of different fertility diagnoses and ages. These rates are a combination of both blastocyst and day 3 embryo transfers. A comparison of clinic IVF success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic.
A comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics, treatment approaches, and entrance criteria for ART may vary from clinic to clinic.
