How long does IVF take? New tool predicts success

Patients considering IVF often want to know the answers to two questions: "What are my chances of success?" and "How long does IVF take to succeed?"

There is now an online tool that can help patients with answer both of these questions.

The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) has developed an online tool, the SART Patient Predictor, to help patients going through or considering the IVF process, so that they may be more informed about their likelihood of success. According to the website, "SART has developed this predictor based on nearly 500,000 cycles of therapy to more than 320,000 women throughout the United States since 2006. This calculator is meant to help you understand your chances of having a live birth, based on your personal situation. The calculations from this Patient Predictor assume that you have not had prior IVF treatment."

After you fill in your details (age, height, weight, diagnosis, pregnancy history and whether you will be using your own eggs or an egg donor), the predictor then calculates your chance of conceiving with one, two or three IVF cycles.

One of the best aspects of this new tool is a patient's ability to see their chance of success based on transferring a single embryo versus multiple embryos.

The cumulative pregnancy rates with two single embryo transfers (one fresh and one frozen) is higher than the pregnancy rate with a single two embryo transfer. At the same time, the multiple pregnancy rate is much higher in the two embryo transfer group. The goal of IVF is to help a patient achieve a healthy pregnancy. Singleton pregnancies are far safer than multiple pregnancies for both the mother and the baby. A multiple pregnancy carries higher risks of complications to both the mother and infant.

Children born as twins are at significantly increased risks of cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, language delay and behavioral problems. These risks are even higher for triplets and other higher order multiples. Of primary concern is that these can be lifelong disabilities. Mothers pregnant with multiples are at increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, hospitalizations, and cesarean delivery.

Using this new tool, you are able to see how likely you are to achieve a pregnancy in your first IVF cycle transferring a single embryo. You are than able to see how that percentage increases after a second IVF cycle transferring a single embryo, etc. This will also tell you the chance of multiples predicted for each cycle. You can also compare this to an IVF cycle where you transfer two embryos, and the likelihood of multiples. By using this tool, you will better understand how long treatment may take to be successful. This helps many patient's to feel more knowledgeable and in control during their IVF treatment.

Patients using the predictor may want help confirming and interpreting the results. A qualified fertility specialist can help with this.

To see a fertility specialist who can help you interpret your predictive results, diagnose fertility issues, and devise the best treatment plan, make an appointment at one of InVia’s four Chicago area fertility clinics.