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In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common form of advanced reproductive treatment (ART) that has allowed many hopeful parents with fertility issues to realize their dreams of having a child.
Fortunately, modern advancements in the IVF process have helped improve the success rates and reduce complication risk.
The Good News About IVF
The science behind IVF has improved since 1978, when the first child conceived with IVF, Louise Joy Brown, was born, with the most significant advances being made in just the past 10 years.
With implantation success rates rising and birth defects related to IVF decreasing due to preimplantation genetic testing (PGT or PGT-A), those seeking fertility therapy with these methods have better odds of becoming the parents of healthy children than ever before.
A Look at the Statistics for Live Birth Success With IVF
We’ll review many of the statistics related to IVF, but as the top indicator of IVF success, let's take a look at the live birth rates first:
- Live birth rates among women who have undergone IVF treatment have risen by 18% across the board, with older women enjoying the most dramatic increase.
- According to a new report by UNSW medical researchers, success rates in women aged 35 to 39 rose by 23%, and those between 40 and 44, saw their live birth rates rise by 27%.
- Live birth rates in women over 44 were 1.7% for fresh cycles and 9.2% for thaw cycles, which has strengthened the hypothesis that frozen embryos lead to a higher success rate than fresh embryos in older women, according to the UNSW.
Using Frozen Embryos for IVF
The successful use of frozen embryos has increased over the last ten years when it was discovered that live birth rates from thawed embryos went from 20% in 2010 to 30% in 2019, according to the UNSW.
The increased success rates with frozen embryos may be because transferring them to the womb can be performed when the woman’s body is more receptive, and vitrification (rapid freezing) methods have improved considerably.
Reducing Multiple Births
The problem with multiple births is not so much with the number of babies born but rather the health and birth weight of these children.
The incidence of multiple births born through IVF is down from 7.9% in 2010 to 2.9% in 2019.
The decline can be attributed to the number of embryos transferred during the IVF cycle. Newer protocols call for only transferring one healthy embryo (rather than multiple) during the cycle; however, there are still instances when more than one embryo is transferred.
This single-embryo-transfer approach went from 70% in 2010 to 92% in 2019.
Chromosomal Testing in IVF
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD and PGD-A) is the term for the genetic testing of an embryo.
Not only have advances in this technology allowed parents to have increased confidence in their baby's health but also the ability to identify the child’s gender, which has minimized some gender-specific congenital concerns.
Is the Time Right for You to Consider IVF?
Your chances of becoming a parent with the help of IVF are better than ever and as the biological clock continues ticking, keep this in mind: While your chances of conceiving at an older age have increased, success rates are still highest among younger women.
West Hollywood Advanced IVF Treatments
The Beverly Hills Reproductive Fertility Center provides compassionate state-of-the-art IVF treatments and ART in West Hollywood, California, for a diverse patient population.
Call us at (310) 881-8846 to schedule a consultation. Here, you can learn more about our ART and IVF services, your many options, and the cost of fertility treatment.
