Many patients look to published in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates to get an idea of which fertility clinic is likely to provide the best treatment. Although there may be some use in these statistics, comparing in vitro fertilization Illinois success rates between programs is not possible because of the the vast differences in how programs provide treatment and how they measure their success rates. Instead, it is best to pay attention to safety issues and to which clinics provide the most proven protocols and treatments.

How IVF Success Rates are Measured

There are a variety of factors to take into consideration when evaluating IVF success rates. Considerations include:

• Cancellation rate - IVF cycles can be canceled while the patient is on fertility medication or after egg retrieval. A very low cancellation rate can mean that the program has very strict patient selective criteria, which artificially inflates pregnancy rates. It can also mean that the program does not allow most patients to cancel their cycle even if the response to medication has been poor, resulting in lower pregnancy rates. In this respect, a program with a higher cancellation rate may actually be a good thing.
• Pregnancy rate - The CDC considers an IVF cycle to have resulted in pregnancy if the pregnancy progresses far enough to be seen on ultrasound. This can result in worse numbers for clinics who accept patients who have a higher risk of miscarriage, and who may miscarry before the pregnancy can be seen on an ultrasound.
• Live birth rate - A live birth is one in which a baby has spontaneous heartbeat and breathing after birth. This rate is somewhat more straightforward than other measures, but can mask programs that transfer a large number of embryos, resulting in higher-order multiple pregnancies in which there is technically a live birth, but the babies are born prematurely and may not survive, or may have serious health problems.

Safety Concerns

‍Instead of focusing on a clinic's success rates, it is helpful to place more emphasis on safety, which often corresponds to more effective treatment as well. An IVF program that transfers 1-2 embryos may have the same pregnancy rate as one that routinely transfers five embryos, but the implantation rate is higher. It is also important to look for programs with low multiple pregnancy rates, because multiple pregnancies are associated with a high risk of complications for both the mother and the babies.

Dr. Randy Morris would be happy to meet with you about treatment for your infertility. To schedule your consultation with the best center for in vitro fertilization in Illinois, please click below and enter your information or call IVF1 at (630) 357-6540.