Infertility Frequently Asked Questions
How successful is infertility treatment?
When considering the success rates for any type of infertility treatment, you should bear in mind that the average chance to conceive for a normally fertile couple having regular unprotected intercourse is around 7% during each menstrual cycle. It is estimated that 10% of normally fertile couples fail to conceive within their first year of trying and 5% after two years. Similar to normal fertility rates, effective treatments, can be expected to have, on average, up to a 25% success rate per cycle of treatment, and may therefore need to be repeated several times before a pregnancy is achieved. Simple ovulation induction to compensate for hormonal imbalances has a very high success rate; more than 80% of women suffering from such disorders are likely to conceive after several cycles of treatment with drugs such as clomiphene citrate or injectable fertility drugs.
The chance for pregnancy after IVF may be anywhere from 0 to 50% per attempt. This wide range is due to differences in the patients' ages and causes of infertility.
The bottom line is that, on average, IVF has similar success rates to that of normally fertile couples having regular unprotected intercourse, or close to 25% per cycle. Depending upon the woman's age and other infertility factors for the couple, as well as the experience and success rates of the particular treatment facility, your own chances for success during any one treatment may be much higher or lower. When you are considering a particular treatment facility, you should learn about success rates for people with your medical profile. Also bear in mind that, while it is important to have a positive attitude during your IVF treatment, many couples may require several cycles before they either are able to achieve a successful pregnancy or decide to pursue another route.