There are many different factors that may affect the outcome of an IVF cycle and whether or not the result is a successful pregnancy. When a woman decides to go through an IVF cycle it is important that she understands the basic factors that affect fertility and her overall ability to conceive and maintain a pregnancy, as well as the likelihood that she will achieve IVF success.
Age
If a woman is using her own eggs, then age is the most important factor there is in predicting her potential individual IVF cycle success rate. The two main concerns that reduce an “older woman’s” (generally women 40+) chance of success are the potential for fewer eggs, in addition to diminished egg quality. A poor quality egg will result in a poor quality embryo. Eggs from older women are less competent in regards to genetic separation leading to an increase in genetically abnormal embryos (i.e. disjunction errors). Abnormal embryos are called aneuploid embryos. The embryo will exhibit slow and irregular division, with many fragments within the embryo. These embryos will either fail to attach and implant, or will lead to miscarriage 99.9% of the time. If a woman is over the age of 40 she may want to consider using a donor egg in order to achieve IVF success.
Types of Infertility
Factors like uterine abnormalities or fibroid tumors may also decrease the likelihood of a woman’s IVF success potential. In such cases, a woman should consider surgery before proceeding with an IVF cycle to increase the chances of becoming pregnant. Women with a history of recurrent miscarriages that may be linked to chromosomal problems with the fetus should consider PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) when completing an IVF cycle. Women experiencing ovarian dysfunction, including high FSH levels which indicate a low ovarian reserve, may also experience greater trouble achieving success with IVF. Additionally, if a woman is diagnosed with hydrosalpinx she should consider removing the diseased tube in order to maximize her chances of success during a cycle. Studies have shown that women who are left untreated may reduce their chances of IVF success by as much as 25%.
Brown Fertility IVF Cycle Success Rate (December 2013)
With over 20 years of experience and the management of more than 5,000 IVF cycles, Dr. Samuel E. Brown is a nationally recognized leader in the field of reproductive medicine. Brown Fertility offers a fully comprehensive array of infertility treatments and is home to Florida’s most modern IVF center, which produces some of the highest pregnancy rates in the country. After practicing in Florida for more than a decade, Dr. Brown has not only earned a reputation for excellent outcomes and world-class treatment options, but also for providing patients with the one-on-one attention and personal care they deserve.
If you would like to learn more about the factors that affect fertility for you and/or your partner, please visit our contact page to request an appointment or call the phone number for your area, or send us an email.