Can IVF guarantee 100% Success in its 1st cycle itself?

MYTH: IVF guarantees 100% success (or) there is no hope after the 1st IVF failure.

FACT: The success rate of IVF is about 50% in women below the age of 35. As the age increases, the chances of success go down. Hence, it is important for couples to understand that the success rate of IVF depends on various factors such as age, the condition of the woman's uterus and the ovarian reserve with good quality oocytes, the quality of the man's sperms, and other biological and hormonal conditions.

A thorough evaluation of the couple reveals the best way to optimize the treatment. Therefore, it is important to understand from a fertility specialist what the underlying cause of infertility is. The more informed you are, the better you will understand what IVF success entails. The global average success rate of one cycle of IVF is around 35%.

Without the right understanding of the success rates, couples often get dejected if the first IVF cycle fails, and end up switching doctors/hospitals. It is advisable for couples to choose the correct centre, and be prepared to undergo at least 2-3 cycles of IVF treatment to achieve pregnancy, because the same doctor would know the history better and be able to advise the next course of treatment appropriately.

To identify the best centre, you need to find out about the quality of the lab, whether the lab is equipped with the latest technology available, the availability of full-time in-house embryologists and doctors, complete transparency in information given by the doctors and counsellors regarding success rates, step-by-step explanation of the procedure, and the individual protocols that differ from patient to patient.