All statistics on IVF: from the probability of pregnancy the first time to the percentage of complications

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, has emerged as a game-changer for many couples who are having difficulty becoming pregnant naturally. Over time, the process has become more efficient and accessible due to advancements in medical technology. However, what are the actual odds of success, particularly in the first try?

Having an understanding of the IVF statistics can help you control your expectations. There is a lot of information to take into account, ranging from the risks to the possibility of becoming pregnant on the first attempt. Although every couple’s journey is different, understanding the broad trends can be quite insightful.

It’s also critical to be mindful of any potential issues. Even though many people experience success, there are still dangers to take into account. Families can make well-informed decisions about their fertility treatment options if they have a clear understanding of the advantages as well as the difficulties.

About figures and facts

First of all, it should be acknowledged that statistics are a thing. They can be stubborn, of course, but when it comes to medicine’s effectiveness, average data must be dealt with, which does a poor job of reflecting the differences between patients and their histories. In Russia, every clinic and reproductive facility maintains its own records of IVF treatments that are successful and unsuccessful. Statistics on various IVF protocols, patient interviews, and the efficacy of obtaining cells at various ages are occasionally conducted using only Russian data.

We did not rely on statistics provided by individual clinics to choose the most accurate data. The European Center for Reproduction and Embryology, which yearly reports to the World Health Organization (WHO) on the state and issues surrounding reproductive methods worldwide, provided the data used in this article. Since these data have no commercial significance, they can be trusted.

About demand

For forty years, in vitro fertilization, or IVF, has been used all over the world. In this period, over 6 million children were born worldwide as a result of the technique known as "in vitro," or fertilization outside of the mother’s body. Contrary to popular belief, infertility is a far more common issue. Approximately 20% of couples experience infertility in one or both of the genders. The majority of the causes of infertility can be removed with alternative techniques, such as medication or surgery. About 25% of cases of infertility require IVF.

Approximately 70,000 IVF procedures are carried out by Russian physicians annually. Roughly 18% of them are funded by the federal and regional budgets (through the mandatory health insurance policy) and are subject to quotas. The number of children born only through the efforts of doctors and conceived in a test tube is rapidly increasing since the IVF program was approved by the state in 2012 and received financial and legislative support. 0.7-1.5% of all Russian babies were born via in vitro fertilization in 2017–2018; the exact percentage varied by region.

Statistics on IVF (in vitro fertilization) show the potential obstacles and hopes that couples may have. Although the likelihood of becoming pregnant on the first attempt varies according to age and health, success rates typically range from 20% to 40%. Repeated efforts, though, can increase the chances. However, there are hazards associated with IVF as well, such as the rare possibility of issues like multiple pregnancies or premature births. Making sense of these numbers aids families in making decisions about becoming parents.

Who and why do eco?

People of all ages visit Russian clinics, but women between the ages of 32 and 35 make up nearly 80% of those seeking reproductive assistance. The study indicates that these patients have a higher standard of living than the average. Such services come at a hefty price (which, incidentally, ranges from 140 to 250 thousand rubles on average in Russia, based on statistics from 2018). The procedure won’t be entirely free even with mandatory health insurance; there may be a surcharge of several thousand to several hundred thousand rubles.

There are several explanations for why the pairs exhibit extorporepical fertilization, including the absence of clear "leaders." About 45% of all IVF cases are due to male factors, and about 40% are due to female factors. The remaining reasons are either unidentified or mutual, meaning that neither spouse’s actions alone prevented a natural pregnancy from occurring.

About 11% of couples are unregistered and cohabiting, while 87% of couples are legally married. Single women without a committed partner or experiencing different types of infertility make up about 2% of the patients seen by reproductive specialists. A single man is not allowed to apply for ART by law.

The average duration of "infertility" among patients who apply for IVF for the first time is more than 6-7 years. Prior to IVF, up to 90% of patients receive treatment for infertility through alternative means. Since only women seek treatment from clinic psychotherapists, women are more concerned about the outcomes and fallout from in vitro fertilization. So far, at the reception, no men have been observed.

The most common technique is traditional IVF, which involves fertilizing eggs in a Petri dish in a lab and then transferring them into the woman’s uterus a few days later. About 40% of all IVF procedures involve ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in which the sperm is "manually" inserted into the egg. In 89% of ICSI cases, IMSI—a technique for choosing sperm to inject into an egg—is necessary.

Preimplantation diagnostics are performed in approximately 30% of IVF cases, either at the patients’ request or strongly advised by a geneticist. It is particularly pertinent to "older" fathers and mothers, as well as those who have previously undergone failed IVF treatments. Couples who have relatives with genetic abnormalities may benefit from genetic diagnostics. The selection of embryos according to genetic principles is made possible by these diagnostics. There will only be healthy embryos transferred.

Successful protocols

A protocol is considered successful if it leads to pregnancy. Numerous factors influence success. When comparing different types of protocols, IVF with hormonal stimulation in young patients offers the best chances of success on the first try; between 35 and 45 percent of protocols result in the onset of pregnancy.

Only 10–11% of protocols in the natural cycle that are initiated without hormonal support are successful on the first try. Frozen eggs, frozen sperm, and cryopreserved embryos are used in 50–60% of cryoprotokols that are completed the first time.

Compared to other types of IVF, donor-derived IVF has a relatively high success rate—up to 51–58% of successful protocols. In approximately 48% of pairs, the combination of eco+ixi can lead to a single pregnancy attempt.

The chances of conception in the base value are roughly 30% if the spouses were unable to conceive for three years prior to IVF. The probability drops to 27% after three to six years of infertility and to 24% after six years. The odds of a successful protocol on the first try are not higher than 18% following ten years of ineffective attempts to conceive.

Generally, follow-up protocols are more effective than the initial ones. The chances of becoming pregnant rise by 5% on the second protocol and 8–10% on the third; however, after the third or fourth protocol, the chances typically remain unchanged or, in rare instances, start to fall below the basic average value of 30%.

Women under the age of thirty-two have the highest recorded number of successful protocols. The likelihood of embryo implantation following transfer drops to 11% after 40 years and to 8% after 43 years.

Due to the previous failed protocol, natural conception can happen between the first and second cycle during the rest and recuperation phase because of the hormone stimulation that was experienced. This occurs 25% of the time.

When fallopian tubes are obstructed, the best outcomes from successful IVF are seen. Over 55% of women with this diagnosis become pregnant. IVF helps 45% of women who have infertility due to hormone imbalances become mothers. In cases of fairly severe endometriosis, 43% of protocols are successful; in cases of polycystic ovarian disease, 49% of protocols are successful; in cases of unknown causes, 25% of cases result in pregnancy; and in 49% of cases, male forms of infertility are successfully treated with IVF. In 20% of cases, IVF is successful if both spouses are infertile.

Complications

The second half of the Eco Program can frequently be accompanied by a decline in wellbeing during the hormonal therapy process. Progesterone and fluid delay are the main causes of the weight and nausea that nearly half of all patients report having. On the other hand, fewer problems and unfavorable outcomes arise than women believe.

For instance, during the previous two years, ovarian hypermostation syndrome has been observed in 2.5% of all protocols involving stimulation. After transferring two embryos, 40–45% of cases result in multiple pregnancies. Presently, the great majority of programs only transfer one embryo. Therefore, if we are talking about high-quality embryos, the risk of multiple pregnancies is decreased, but the likelihood of a pregnancy arising is only slightly decreased.

After giving birth to an IVF baby, a woman has a 20% chance of developing endocrine diseases; this is not a result of the program itself, but rather of the concurrent endocrine pathology.

However, official data from the European Center for Reproduction and Embryology indicates that the probability of oncological diseases following IVF does not exceed 0.00001%. Only in cases where a woman had pre-IVF tumor processes but was not properly diagnosed can cancer develop. Only in this instance will hormones encourage the development of cancerous cells, and the illness will manifest itself either before or after childbirth. It’s important to remember that, in contrast to IVF, pregnancy itself is linked to several long-term hormone increases, which can accelerate the growth of pre-existing tumors.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Regretfully, only roughly 80% of women who use IVF to conceive end up carrying their child to term. Since the pregnancy is ended, two out of every ten pregnant women now become those who are preparing to become mothers. Ninety percent of the time, this happens in the early stages (up to 12 weeks), and miscarriage and dead pregnancy are the most frequent causes. After IVF, there is a very small chance of an ectopic pregnancy—less than 2%. Particularly in the second and third trimesters, there is an increased risk for women carrying twins or triplets.

Premature birth is thought to be the biggest risk in the middle and last third of pregnancy following IVF; up to 30% of these pregnancies result in premature birth. Though the causes can vary, pathologies and placenta previa, which causes early aging, gestosis, polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios, and multiple pregnancies are common pregnancy complications.

After IVF, only 15% of women are able to carry their pregnancies to term without any issues or complications. The remainder suffer from specific illnesses, issues that call for ongoing medical monitoring and occasionally even intervention. There are very specific indications for a cesarean section that are unrelated to the IVF procedure, but they are not required following IVF. It is important to note that healthy couples become pregnant naturally without the need for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and that the incidence of cesarean sections following IVF is specifically related to the reproductive issues that underlie the need for ART treatment.

Many couples who are having trouble becoming pregnant find hope with IVF, but the procedure can be unpredictable. It’s vital to keep in mind that success rates differ depending on a number of variables, including age, health, and the reason for infertility, even though some women may become pregnant on their first attempt.

Multiple pregnancies and ovarian hyperstimulation are examples of IVF complications that can occur but are usually uncommon. Clinics strive to increase safety and reduce risks, which makes it a more viable choice for families nowadays.

IVF outcomes are improving as science progresses, and many couples can find the process of becoming parents via IVF fulfilling if they have reasonable expectations.

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