Success Rates FAQ

Q1: What is your IVF success rate?

This is the most commonly asked question among infertility patients trying to select a program. It seems like a simple question but, it has a complex answer. IVF statistics are dependent on how patients are selected for IVF treatment. Some programs will not let certain patients into their program if they feel these patients will lower their success rates. Our program is dedicated to educating the patient/couple and discusses the success rates, this allows a well informed decision to be made.

Q2: What are the most important factors in IVF statistics?

When trying to interpret IVF statistics you need to know how the results are reported, by clinical pregnancy rate (pregnancy sac at ultrasound), ongoing pregnancy rate (fetal heart beat seen by ultra sound) or by delivery rate? The denominator in these calculations could be number of couples entering treatment, those who underwent retrieval, or those who had an embryo transfer.  

Q3: What is the best way to select a program?

Every case is unique and is affected by duration of infertility, type of infertility, maternal/paternal age and a variety of other factors. Below are some perameters to help with your decision process:

• Assess experience; Board Certification in OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology.
  

• Generate your own opinion during your visit. Assess integrity, intelligence, responsiveness and compassion.
  

• Call the hospitals the practice is associated with to assess their reputation in the medical community. Talk to the chairman of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
  

• An affiliation with a residency program gives certain credibility.
  

• Talk to your friends with infertility problems.
  

• Be weary of programs with very high pregnancy rates over the national average.
  

• Avoid programs with 100% guarantees.
  

• Most importantly, you need to feel comfortable and trust your doctor. You need to be able to ask questions and get answers you can understand.