In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a beacon of hope for many parents seeking solutions for fertility struggles. These struggles come with a host of emotional, mental and financial burdens, many of which are often heart-breaking or difficult to overcome entirely. That is why, when parents make the decision to put their faith in a fertility clinic to finally achieve their dream of parenthood, they often look to statistics to help make the right decision for their family.

Statistics to Look for at a Fertility Clinic

When you are treated at a fertility clinic, you will be given a range of statistics, including things such as your chances of having twins or the likelihood of having an ectopic pregnancy. Many of these statistics will be dependent upon your unique circumstances and recommended treatment plan, but there are two statistics that every parent considering IVF treatment wants and needs to know: their IVF success rate and live birth rate.

IVF Success Rate and Live Birth Rate

Your success rate, also referred to as the clinic pregnancy rate, is the likelihood you will obtain a successful pregnancy.
The live birth rate, also called the take-home baby rate, is the likelihood you will have a live birth, rather than a stillbirth, miscarriage or other complication after obtaining a successful pregnancy through IVF.

When selecting a fertility clinic, many parents consider the success rate of the clinic as the deciding factor; however, they should really be looking at the live birth rate for their “true” success rate. The live birth rate of any clinic is always going to be lower than their successful pregnancy rate, typically 10% less, thus making it a more accurate representation of your success rate should you choose to begin a program. This is because, just like with a naturally conceived pregnancy, assisted pregnancies can sometimes end in miscarriage or loss.

Making an Informed Decision

The true representation of your success rate and what to anticipate is the live birth rate, which is usually about 10% lower than the clinic’s success rate for obtaining a pregnancy. Before you begin any fertility program, it’s important to understand that obtaining a pregnancy does not always mean a baby will be delivered. While the clinic and medical professionals will do everything they possibly can to ensure a successful, healthy pregnancy that results in the birth of a full-term baby, there are complications that may sometimes occur throughout the pregnancy that could result in biochemical pregnancy, miscarriage, loss or even stillbirth.

While the goal is always to deliver a healthy, full-term baby, some situations simply do not allow for this to happen. Because fertility struggles already come with heaps of emotional toil, we want every parent to know going into their program what they should expect so they can be prepared in the unfortunate event that a loss does occur. Always discuss your concerns and your circumstances with the clinic’s professionals in an open, honest conversation so you can have a clear understanding of what your outcome may be.