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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
Wondering how successful IVF is today? You're not alone—this is one of the most common questions we hear. The good news is that IVF success rates have been steadily improving. In fact, live birth rates have gone up by 18% across the board. Women between the ages of 35 and 39 saw a 23% increase, and for women aged 40 to 44, success rates rose by 27%, based on a new report by UNSW medical researchers.
Even women over 44 are seeing better outcomes. While fresh embryo cycles had a live birth rate of 1.7%, frozen embryo transfers had a much higher rate—around 9.2%. This supports what many fertility experts now believe: frozen embryos often give better results, especially for 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.
