IVF Success rates

Understanding success rates helps you make informed decisions when considering fertility treatment options. At Fertility Specialists of Western Australia, we prioritise transparency and support, ensuring you feel confident at every stage of your journey.

"This is a great initiative on behalf of IVF patients, and it is the first step forward in transparency. It is so important patients are well informed to make the best possible decision when considering IVF.”

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director

Purpose of the IVF Success website

The YourIVFSuccess website aims to help you understand your individual chances of success with IVF treatment. It provides transparent success rates for IVF clinics across Australia, empowering you to make informed decisions.

However it's important to note that while the website focusses on IVF success rates, it does not provide an insight into the success rates of other fertility treatments, or note the key factors that influence the success of IVF treatments (e.g., fertility concern, overall health, medicial history etc.)

"Not every couple struggling to conceive will require IVF and it is important to explore other less invasive options first. At Fertility Specialists of WA, for example, we aim to avoid IVF, unless it is essential. In fact, I believe more than half of our patients conceive without the use of IVF treatment."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director

Measures to define success.

The data on the new website is categorised into four measures that aim to demonstrate a patient’s likely success.

Measure 1

Births per complete egg retrieval.

Measure 2

Births per complete egg retrieval cycle for women having their first-ever egg retrieval procedure.

Measure 3

Births per individual treatment attempt.

Measure 4

Births per embryo that is transferred.

The data used for IVF success rates includes all patients, regardless of their unique fertility challenges that caused them to seek treatment. It does not account for factors that influence the success of an IVF cycle, meaning it isn’t always an apples-to-apples comparison.

To make the best decision when considering IVF, it’s essential to understand the statistics and be aware of the key factors that impact success.

"Consequently though, some clinics might be tempted to push for more IVF cycles, so it goes without saying that this influences the clinical outcomes and statistics."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director
Measure 1:

Births per complete egg retrieval procedure.

 
This measure shows the chance of a live birth from fresh and frozen embryo transfer procedures resulting from each complete egg retrieval cycle performed in a period of one year. In other words, what are my chances of a live birth from any embryo that is generated from that IVF cycle?
Measure 1: Births per complete egg retrieval procedure. What does this measure entail?

"We will very carefully manage our patients to produce the maximum number of eggs possible in one cycle without putting the patient at risk of OHSS. Generally, we will collect at least 1 more egg than the national average. This is to give patients a good cumulative pregnancy rate (and potentially a subsequent sibling)."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director

Things to consider:

Egg retrieval cycles where no eggs are retrieved, no embryos created or no embryos are available for freezing or transfer, are included in this figure.

Egg retrievals where all resulting eggs or embryos are frozen (i.e., freeze-all cycles) are not included in this figure unless they are followed by a thaw cycle involving eggs or embryos in that same measurement period of one year.

The figure only includes cycles where a woman intended to or used her own eggs.

The data used is a collective of every IVF patient regardless of the underlying fertility issue

Measure 2:

Births per complete egg retrieval cycle for women having their first-ever egg retrieval procedure.

 

This measure shows the chance of a live birth from fresh and frozen embryo transfers resulting from a complete egg retrieval cycle for women having first-ever IVF treatment in Australia.

In other words, what are my chances of a live birth from any embryo that is generated from my first ever IVF cycle?

Measure 2: Births per complete egg retrieval cycle for women having had their first egg retrieval procedure. Why is it important to make a distinction between your first and subsequent egg retrieval procedures?

"It’s an important distinction because a woman having her first IVF cycle is very different to a woman who has had several IVF cycles before. In the latter case, your chances to conceive in a subsequent cycle - unfortunately - are lower."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director

Things to consider:

This measure does not include women who have previously had IVF cycles at any clinic.

Egg retrieval cycles where no eggs are retrieved, no embryos created or no embryos are available for freezing or transfer, are included in this figure.

Egg retrievals where all resulting eggs or embryos are frozen (i.e., freeze-all cycles) are not included in this figure unless they are followed by a thaw cycle involving eggs or embryos in that same measurement period of one year.

The data used is a collective of every IVF patient regardless of the underlying fertility issue

Conceptions that occur from any other fertility treatment other than IVF, are not included.

The figure only includes cycles where a woman intended to or used her own eggs.

Egg retrievals involving donor sperm are included.

Measure 3:

Births per individual treatment attempt.

 

This measure shows the chance of a live birth from each individual treatment attempt involving an intended embryo transfer that was started in one year at this clinic.

Sometimes no embryo transfer procedure takes place because the IVF treatment is cancelled before egg retrieval or suitable embryos are not available. Any cycles where the treatment is cancelled or all eggs or embryos were frozen for later use, are not considered individual treatment attempts.

Measure 3: Births per individual treatment attempt. This figure does not include 'freeze-all' cycles.
The reasons for a freeze-all cycle may be that the couple is going to embark on genetic testing of their embryos, or there may be a concern about the thickness of the lining of the womb or the woman’s hormone levels may not be suitable for a fresh embryo transfer.

"Again, when you interpret this data, be aware that this figure excludes all the women who were having a planned 'freeze-all cycle'. That is about 1 in 3 of our patients."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director

Things to consider:

Egg retrieval cycles where no eggs are retrieved, no embryos created or no embryos are available for freezing or transfer, are included in this figure.

Egg retrievals where all resulting eggs or embryos are frozen (i.e., freeze-all cycles) are not included in this figure unless they are followed by a thaw cycle involving eggs or embryos in that same measurement period of one year.

The figure only includes cycles where a woman intended to or used her own eggs.

The data used is a collective of every IVF patient regardless of the underlying fertility issue

Conceptions that occur from any other fertility treatment other than IVF, are not included.

Initiated thaw cycles where an embryo was thawed but did not proceed to an embryo transfer are included.

Artificial insemination cycles are not included.

Cycles involving donor sperm are included.

"Hence, if a third of our patients will not be proceeding to an embryo transfer from the same cycle, this will lead to an artifactual reduction in the chance of getting pregnant in this IVF treatment cycle. It is important that you understand this when you look at the data."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director

"For example, a fertility clinic that deals with complex fertility cases and welcome people who have been unsuccessful before, may lead to an artifactual reduction in their success rates, as a young, fit and healthy patient who has never had a failed IVF experience, will have a better success rate."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director
Measure 4:

Births per embryo that is transferred.

 

This measure shows the chance of a live birth from each individual fresh or frozen embryo that was transferred in one year at this clinic.

This figure is useful for patients who want to know what their chances are from one embryo transfer.

Measure 4: Births per embryo that is transferred. What does this measure entail?Measure 4: Births per embryo that is transferred. What does this measure entail?

"Again, when you interpret this data, be aware that this figure excludes all the women who were having a planned 'freeze-all cycle'. That is about 1 in 3 of our patients."

Prof Roger Hart | Medical Director

Things to consider:

Includes autologous cycles only (the embryos being transferred originated from the women having the embryo transfer)

Artificial insemination cycles are not included.

Embryos transferred involving donor sperm are included.

Embryos transferred that were created in a different clinic are included.

Embryo transfers that have undergone laboratory procedures (e.g. PGT) are included.

 

Conclusion

At Fertility Specialists of Western Australia (FSWA), we understand that every patient’s journey is unique. Success rates are a useful statistic, but they must always be considered in the context of each individual’s circumstances. Our commitment is to explore all options tailored to your needs before recommending an IVF cycle.

We are proud to provide support to patients with complex fertility challenges, including those with poor fertility prognoses or repeated unsuccessful attempts at other clinics. We believe that every journey deserves compassion, care, and a personalised approach.

We are committed to providing you with a holistic, supportive, and compassionate fertility journey. At FSWA, your care comes first, and we are here to help you every step of the way.