What is the Success Rate of IVF on the First Try?

Parenthood is one of the most beautiful experiences anyone can have. Unfortunately, the path to parenthood isn’t always straightforward. Infertility is more common than people think—according to WHO, every 1 in 6 people faces infertility. IVF offers hope to patients dealing with infertility issues by increasing their chances of conceiving successfully. This blog explores the success rate of IVF on the first try, the factors that affect it, and tips to improve it.

IVF Success Rates in India

The process of in vitro fertilization takes approximately four to six weeks. The six stages of IVF treatment are ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo culture, embryo transfer, and pregnancy testing.

The global average IVF success rate using self eggs is estimated at 50-60% for women under 35, and sometimes even higher. Compared to this, the IVF success rate in India is roughly 30-35%, according to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. “During a good run, it’s 40%,” says Dr. Alka Kriplani, former head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department at AIIMS.

Success rates differ from clinic to clinic. Certain fertility treatments are offered alongside IVF, which can increase the success rate to 60%.

What are the Factors Affecting IVF Success?

As we’ve covered earlier, IVF success isn’t dependent on a singular factor. Here are all the aspects that affect the success rate of IVF on the first try.

1. Age

Age is the single most important factor dictating IVF success rates. Fertility naturally declines with age. Typically, women under 35 have the highest success rates with IVF treatment due to their high ovarian reserve and egg quality. As women get older, the quality and quantity of their eggs decline, which lowers their chances of success with IVF.

The above data was taken from the 2019 Assisted Reproductive Technology Fertility Clinic and National Summary Report. These statistics are averages, and the actual success rate of IVF depends on the patient’s individual health, medical history, and the clinic’s IVF protocols.

2. Cause and Duration of Infertility

The reason for IVF treatment varies from patient to patient. Certain infertility issues are easier to treat than others. It can be harder for IVF to be successful if the couple is dealing with unexplained infertility compared to cases where the issue is known.

Women with ovulation issues or fallopian tube blockages may find it easier to become pregnant on the first try than a patient with severe PCOS or endometriosis.

3. Egg & Sperm Quality

The quality of the egg and sperm also dictates the success rate of IVF treatment. Men who have low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or abnormally shaped sperm may have lower chances of success with IVF. Similarly, women with low ovarian reserve or poor-quality eggs may not get good-quality embryos with IVF.

4. Quality of the Embryo

The quality of the embryo determines whether it will implant or not. Each embryo is graded according to its viability and development. Higher-grade embryos have a greater chance of successful implantation and pregnancy.

5. Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Protocol

Ovarian stimulation shouldn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, it must be tailored to individual factors like hormone levels and how your body responds to stimulation. If the duration of ovarian stimulation is incorrect, you may ovulate at the wrong time or have insufficient eggs to work with.

6. Embryo Transfer

Several factors need to be perfect for a successful embryo transfer. The number of embryos you choose to transfer and their quality have an impact on whether you will become pregnant or not. Timing is important too. Timing the transfer right will boost your chances of a successful pregnancy.

7. Uterine Receptivity

After embryo transfer, the embryo must implant itself on the endometrium, or uterine lining. If the endometrium isn’t thick enough, it won’t be able to support the embryo, which may result in implantation failure.

8. Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors and habits affect your overall health, which is one of the factors on which IVF success is dependent. A sedentary lifestyle can harm fertility in men and women. Habits like smoking and drinking also affect fertility negatively by damaging the quality of eggs and sperm. Your diet, too, is directly responsible for your health and fertility.

9. Weight

Being overweight makes IVF processes like ovarian monitoring and egg retrieval more difficult and increases the risk of pregnancy complications. It also reduces the success rate of IVF on the first try. On the flip side, underweight women may struggle to produce enough mature eggs.

10. Clinic Expertise

Don’t underestimate the expertise of a fertility clinic and their medical team. A good care team can make your IVF treatment a success even with all the odds against you. On the other hand, choosing a less reputable clinic with lower success rates could actually lower the success rate of IVF on the first try.

How Many IVF Cycles Do I Need?

The success of IVF treatment depends on multiple factors, which is why it can sometimes fail for seemingly no reason. Some women have perfect conditions: no egg issues, excellent physical health, no stress, no previous miscarriage or IVF failure, etc., and still do not get pregnant on their first IVF attempt.

IVF isn’t always going to succeed on the first try, and that’s alright. Good news: chances of success increase with each IVF attempt! The cumulative birth rate for women under 35 after 6 IVF cycles can reach up to 86%. Most couples require 2 to 3 IVF cycles to become pregnant. Others may be successful on their first try.

How to Increase Your Chances of IVF Success

Now that we’ve looked at the factors affecting the success rate of IVF on the first try, let’s look at what steps you can take to improve your chances of success.

Opt for Genetic Testing (PGT)

Preimplantation genetic testing can identify which of your embryos are euploid, i.e., have the right number of chromosomes and if they have certain genetic disorders. This ensures that only chromosomally normal embryos are transferred.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is possible through exercise and lifestyle and diet changes. If you find it difficult to lose weight, speak to your IVF doctor about hormonal screening and treatment.

Optimize Sperm Health

To improve your sperm health, eat a healthy, balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and give up habits like smoking and drinking.

Avoid hot tubs, saunas, car seat heaters, placing your laptop on your lap, riding bicycles, and wearing tight underwear, as heat stress can harm male fertility.

Take Supplements

Speaking of supplements, here are some that you should ask your fertility specialist about: 

• CoQ10, vitamins such as A, B12, C, D, E, selenium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and multivitamins for men
• Prenatal vitamins, folic acid, fish oil, vitamin D, and supplements to thicken the uterine lining

Reduce Stress

Stress is bad for your body, fertility, and IVF success. High stress may affect IVF success rates, which is why it’s important to actively try to decrease stress levels during treatment.

How to Find the Right Fertility Team

The success rates of IVF treatment keep increasing due to the advancements that have been made in the field of medical science and technology. Choose a clinic with advanced technology and experienced doctors for the best chance of success.

Finding the best fertility clinic can help you improve the success rate of IVF on the first try. At Corion Fertility Clinic, we offer high-quality in vitro fertilization treatment at extremely affordable rates. If you’re planning your first IVF cycle, our expert team at Corion Fertility Clinic can guide you every step of the way. Book a consultation today and take the next step toward parenthood with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How many embryos should I transfer?

A. The number of embryos you transfer depends on factors like age, health, and embryo quality. Most clinics in India will only perform single embryo transfers, unless in exceptional circumstances.

Q. What is the success rate of IVF for women under 35?

A. The IVF success rate for women under 35 is approximately 40 to 45% per IVF cycle.

Q. Can lifestyle and diet factors affect IVF success rates?

A. Yes, the lifestyle and diet factors of both partners affect the success rate of IVF treatment.

Q. What is the IVF success rate on the first try?

A. The success rate of IVF on the first try depends on several individual factors. It also varies according to age—women under 35 have a 56.7% chance of success, while those above 40 have slightly less than 10%.

Q. How many eggs are required for the first IVF attempt to be successful?

A. The number of eggs required varies by age and egg quality. Most fertility specialists recommend retrieving at least 10–15 mature eggs to have a good chance at developing enough quality embryos for transfer during the first IVF cycle.