IVF Chances of Success: A Complete Guide to Realistic Expectations and Maximizing Your Odds
Understanding your realistic IVF success chances is crucial for emotional preparation, financial planning, and making informed decisions. This comprehensive guide covers age-based success rates, factors affecting outcomes, cumulative chances over multiple cycles, when to consider alternatives, and proven strategies to maximize your odds.
When you're facing infertility and considering IVF, the first question that comes to mind is usually: "What are my chances?" It's a reasonable question, but the answer is far more nuanced than a single percentage. Your IVF chances depend on dozens of factors—from your age and ovarian reserve to your diagnosis, clinic quality, and willingness to pursue multiple cycles.
According to the CDC's most recent comprehensive data, the national average live birth rate per IVF cycle is approximately 32% across all ages. But this statistic is virtually meaningless for predicting your individual chances. A 30-year-old with good ovarian reserve might have a 50% chance per cycle, while a 43-year-old using her own eggs typically has about 6% per cycle. Understanding where you fall on this spectrum—and what you can do to improve your odds—is essential for setting realistic expectations and making informed decisions about your fertility journey.
Key Takeaway
IVF success chances vary dramatically based on age, ovarian reserve, diagnosis, and other factors. While single-cycle success rates decline with age (from 48% under 35 to 2% over 44), cumulative success rates over multiple cycles are significantly higher. Most successful IVF parents don't succeed on their first attempt, and understanding this reality is crucial for managing expectations and planning accordingly.
What You'll Learn
- Realistic IVF Success Rates by Age
- Critical Factors That Affect Your Chances
- Cumulative Success Rates Over Multiple Cycles
- Single vs. Multiple Embryo Transfer
- Fresh vs. Frozen Embryo Transfer Success Rates
- Impact of Genetic Testing on Success
- When to Consider Donor Eggs or Other Alternatives
- How to Maximize Your IVF Success Chances
- Real-World Case Studies
Realistic IVF Success Rates by Age: What the Data Actually Shows
Age is the single most powerful predictor of IVF success. According to the CDC's 2021 National Summary Report (the most comprehensive and recent data available), here's what the numbers look like when you're using your own eggs with fresh embryo transfers:
Live Birth Rates Per IVF Cycle by Age
CDC SART 2021 Data - Fresh Embryos, Own Eggs
| Age Range | Per Cycle Success | Miscarriage Rate | Cycles to 70% Success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 47.9% | 15% | 1-2 cycles |
| 35-37 | 38.3% | 20% | 2-3 cycles |
| 38-40 | 26.8% | 30% | 3-4 cycles |
| 41-42 | 14.3% | 40% | 5-6 cycles |
| 43-44 | 6.4% | 50% | 10+ cycles |
| Over 44 | 2.0% | 60% | Consider donor eggs |
Understanding These Numbers
These percentages represent your chance of taking home a baby from a single IVF cycle that includes egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo culture, and transfer. The "Cycles to 70% Success" column shows approximately how many full cycles you'd need to achieve a 70% cumulative probability of success, assuming similar results each time.
Why Age Creates Such Dramatic Differences
The steep decline in IVF success rates with age isn't about your body's ability to carry a pregnancy—it's almost entirely about egg quality. Here's what happens as women age:
Chromosomal Abnormalities Increase Exponentially
At age 35, approximately 40% of eggs have chromosomal abnormalities. By 40, it's 60%. By 44, over 90% of eggs are chromosomally abnormal. These abnormalities prevent embryos from implanting or result in early miscarriage.
Reality Check: At 42, even if you retrieve 10 eggs, only 3-4 might be chromosomally normal. This dramatically reduces the number of viable embryos available for transfer.
Egg Quantity Declines
Ovarian reserve decreases with age, meaning fewer eggs are available for retrieval. A 32-year-old might retrieve 15-20 eggs per cycle, while a 41-year-old might retrieve only 5-8.
The Math: Fewer eggs retrieved Ă— lower fertilization rates Ă— more chromosomal abnormalities = significantly fewer embryos to work with.
Miscarriage Rates Rise Sharply
Even when an embryo implants successfully, miscarriage risk increases with maternal age due to chromosomal issues. This means that clinical pregnancy rates (positive pregnancy test) are higher than live birth rates.
The Gap: At 43, you might see a 12% pregnancy rate but only a 6% live birth rate because half of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
Critical Factors That Affect Your IVF Chances
While age is the most significant predictor, it's not the only factor that determines your chances. Understanding these variables helps explain why two people of the same age can have very different outcomes:
Ovarian Reserve (AMH and AFC)
Impact Level: Very High
Your ovarian reserve—measured by Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels and Antral Follicle Count (AFC)—indicates how many eggs you have remaining and how well you'll respond to stimulation medications.
Good Reserve
AMH > 2.0 ng/mL
AFC > 10
Excellent response expected
Moderate Reserve
AMH 1.0-2.0 ng/mL
AFC 5-10
Average response likely
Low Reserve
AMH < 1.0 ng/mL
AFC < 5
Poor response expected
Infertility Diagnosis
Impact Level: Moderate to High
Why you need IVF significantly impacts your chances. Some diagnoses respond better to IVF than others:
Better Prognosis
Male factor, tubal factor, unexplained (under 35)
Variable Prognosis
PCOS, mild endometriosis, unexplained (over 35)
Challenging Prognosis
Diminished ovarian reserve, severe endometriosis, multiple factors
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Impact Level: Moderate
BMI affects both natural fertility and IVF outcomes. Being significantly underweight or overweight can impact egg quality, response to medications, and implantation rates.
Optimal Range: BMI 18.5-30 shows best IVF outcomes. Outside this range, success rates may decrease by 10-15%, though individual variation exists.
Previous IVF History
Impact Level: Very High
Past IVF results are among the best predictors of future success. If you've had previous IVF attempts, those outcomes provide crucial information:
- • Prior IVF pregnancy/birth: Significantly improves future odds (20-30% boost)
- • Good embryo quality but no pregnancy: May indicate implantation issues requiring investigation
- • Poor embryo development: Suggests egg or sperm quality issues
- • Multiple failed transfers: May warrant genetic testing or protocol changes
Lifestyle Factors
Impact Level: Moderate
While not as powerful as age or ovarian reserve, lifestyle factors can influence your IVF chances:
Negative Impact:
- • Smoking (reduces success by 30-50%)
- • Excessive alcohol (3+ drinks/day)
- • High caffeine (>300mg daily)
- • Chronic stress
Positive Impact:
- • Healthy diet (Mediterranean style)
- • Moderate exercise (3-5x weekly)
- • Adequate sleep (7-9 hours)
- • Stress management techniques
Calculate Your Personalized IVF Success Rate
Get instant, personalized predictions based on your age, AMH, FSH, diagnosis, and other factors. Our calculator uses the latest CDC SART data to provide realistic expectations.
Try IVF Success Rate CalculatorCumulative Success Rates: Why Multiple Cycles Matter
One of the most important concepts to understand about IVF chances is the difference between per-cycle success rates and cumulative success rates. Most people who ultimately succeed with IVF don't get pregnant on their first attempt.
Understanding Cumulative Probability
If you have a 40% chance of success per cycle, you don't have a 40% chance of ever having a baby from IVF. You have much better odds than that if you're willing and able to do multiple cycles.
The Math: Each failed cycle doesn't decrease your chances for the next attempt (assuming your circumstances don't change). Your cumulative probability increases with each cycle.
Cumulative Live Birth Rates by Age
Probability of Taking Home a Baby After Multiple Full IVF Cycles
| Age Range | After 1 Cycle | After 2 Cycles | After 3 Cycles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 48% | 73% | 86% |
| 35-37 | 38% | 62% | 75% |
| 38-40 | 27% | 47% | 58% |
| 41-42 | 14% | 27% | 37% |
| 43-44 | 6% | 12% | 18% |
What "Full Cycle" Means
It's important to understand what we mean by a "full cycle" in these statistics:
Fresh Cycle Definition
Ovarian stimulation → egg retrieval → fertilization → fresh embryo transfer (3-5 days after retrieval). Any additional embryos are frozen for future use.
The FET Factor
Many people have multiple frozen embryos from one retrieval. Transferring these frozen embryos (FET) doesn't count as a new "full cycle" in these statistics, but it does improve your cumulative chances significantly. If you retrieve 15 eggs and create 5 embryos, you might have multiple transfer attempts from that single retrieval.
Financial Planning Reality
Understanding cumulative success rates is crucial for financial planning. If you're 36 with a 38% per-cycle chance, budgeting for 2-3 cycles gives you a 62-75% cumulative chance of success. Many fertility financing programs and insurance coverage recognize this reality and cover multiple cycles.
Single vs. Multiple Embryo Transfer: The Success Rate Trade-Off
One decision that significantly affects both your success rate and your risk of twins is whether to transfer one embryo (eSET - elective single embryo transfer) or multiple embryos.
Single Embryo Transfer (eSET)
Success Rate (under 35, good embryo):
50-60%
Advantages:
- • Twins risk under 2% (vs. 12% natural rate)
- • Lower pregnancy complications
- • Lower C-section rate
- • Lower preterm birth risk
- • Lower maternal health risks
Best For:
- • Women under 38
- • High-quality embryos
- • Multiple embryos available
- • Previous IVF success
Two Embryo Transfer (DET)
Success Rate (under 35, good embryos):
55-65%
Considerations:
- • Twins risk 25-35%
- • Higher pregnancy complications
- • Increased C-section likelihood
- • Higher preterm birth risk
- • Uses more embryos per attempt
Consider For:
- • Women over 38
- • Fair-quality embryos
- • Limited embryos available
- • Previous IVF failures
Modern Trend: eSET is Now Standard
In 2021, 85% of IVF transfers in women under 35 involved single embryo transfer, up from just 15% in 2007. This shift reflects two factors:
- • Improved embryo selection: Better lab techniques and genetic testing allow clinics to identify the single best embryo
- • Safety concerns: Medical organizations now recommend eSET for most patients due to the health risks of twin pregnancies
The Age Factor in Embryo Transfer Decisions
| Age Range | ASRM Recommendation | Typical Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | eSET strongly recommended | 90% receive eSET |
| 35-37 | eSET preferred | 75% receive eSET |
| 38-40 | Consider 2 embryos | 50/50 split |
| 41+ | May transfer 2-3 | 70% receive 2+ |
Fresh vs. Frozen Embryo Transfer: Success Rate Differences
The debate between fresh and frozen embryo transfers has evolved significantly over the past decade. Current data shows that frozen embryo transfers (FET) often have equal or slightly better success rates than fresh transfers.
Fresh vs. Frozen Transfer Success Rates
Live Birth Rates by Age and Transfer Type
| Age Range | Fresh Transfer | Frozen Transfer (FET) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 47.9% | 51.3% | +3.4% for FET |
| 35-37 | 38.3% | 42.1% | +3.8% for FET |
| 38-40 | 26.8% | 30.2% | +3.4% for FET |
| 41-42 | 14.3% | 17.8% | +3.5% for FET |
Why FET Success Rates Are Often Higher
1. More Natural Uterine Environment
During fresh transfers, your body has extremely elevated hormone levels from stimulation medications. This can make the uterine lining less receptive to implantation. With FET, your uterine lining develops more naturally in a medicated cycle, creating a more hospitable environment.
2. Allows Time for Genetic Testing (PGT-A)
Frozen embryo transfer provides time for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A), which screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities. Transferring only euploid (chromosomally normal) embryos can increase success rates to 60-70% per transfer, regardless of age.
3. No OHSS Risk
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) can occur after fresh transfers if pregnancy is achieved. This doesn't happen with FET, making it safer for women who had high responses to stimulation medications.
4. Selection Bias
Only embryos that survive the freeze-thaw process are transferred. Modern vitrification techniques have 95%+ survival rates, but this still creates a natural selection for the hardiest embryos.
The Impact of Genetic Testing on IVF Success Chances
Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) has become increasingly common in IVF cycles. It screens embryos for the correct number of chromosomes before transfer. The impact on success rates—and whether it's worth the additional cost—depends heavily on your age and circumstances.
Success Rates: Untested vs. PGT-A Tested Embryos
Live Birth Rate Per Embryo Transferred
| Age Range | Untested Embryo | PGT-A Normal Embryo | % Embryos Normal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 50-55% | 65-70% | 60-70% |
| 35-37 | 40-45% | 60-65% | 50-60% |
| 38-40 | 28-32% | 58-63% | 35-45% |
| 41-42 | 15-18% | 55-60% | 20-30% |
| 43-44 | 6-8% | 50-55% | 5-15% |
Is PGT-A Worth the Cost?
PGT-A typically costs $3,000-$5,000 per cycle plus $300-500 per embryo tested. Whether it's worth this investment depends on your specific situation:
PGT-A Likely Beneficial For:
- Women 38 and older (higher aneuploidy rates)
- Recurrent pregnancy loss history
- Multiple failed IVF transfers (good quality embryos)
- Male partner with low sperm count/quality
- Many embryos to choose from (8+ blastocysts)
PGT-A May Not Be Worth It For:
- Women under 35 with no miscarriage history
- First IVF cycle with good prognosis
- Few embryos available (3 or fewer)
- Limited financial resources
- Time is not a major constraint
The Time vs. Money Trade-Off
PGT-A can help you get pregnant faster by avoiding transfers of abnormal embryos, but it doesn't increase your total chance of having a baby from a given batch of embryos—it just tells you which ones to try first. For women over 38, the time saved may be worth more than the money spent, as each month that passes slightly decreases future IVF chances.
Estimate Your IVF Costs
Planning for IVF? Our cost calculator helps you budget for treatment, medications, testing, and multiple cycles based on your location and specific needs.
Calculate IVF CostsWhen to Consider Donor Eggs or Other Alternatives
One of the most difficult decisions in fertility treatment is when to transition from using your own eggs to considering alternatives like donor eggs, donor embryos, or adoption. While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, certain scenarios suggest it may be time to explore other options.
Donor Egg Success Rates
The most important thing to understand about donor eggs is that success rates depend on the donor's age, not yours. This fundamentally changes the equation:
IVF Success Rates: Own Eggs vs. Donor Eggs
| Recipient Age | Own Eggs | Donor Eggs (Donor <30) | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38-40 | 27% | 55-60% | +28-33% |
| 41-42 | 14% | 55-60% | +41-46% |
| 43-44 | 6% | 55-60% | +49-54% |
| 45+ | 2% | 55-60% | +53-58% |
Signs It May Be Time to Consider Donor Eggs
Age 43 or Older with Own Eggs
With only 6% success per cycle and over 90% of eggs chromosomally abnormal, the path to success with your own eggs becomes extremely difficult both emotionally and financially.
Calculate: At $20,000 per cycle with 6% success, you'd need an average of 17 cycles (costing $340,000) to achieve success. Donor eggs offer 55-60% success for $25,000-$40,000 total.
Very Low Ovarian Reserve (AMH <0.5)
When AMH is very low, you may retrieve only 1-3 eggs per cycle, and many cycles may be canceled due to poor response. Even if you're younger, severe diminished ovarian reserve dramatically reduces success odds.
Consider: If you're retrieving 1-2 eggs per cycle, you might need 5-10 retrievals to get enough embryos to test. Donor eggs provide many high-quality embryos from a single cycle.
Multiple Failed Cycles with Poor Embryo Development
If you've done 3+ cycles and consistently see poor fertilization rates, high rates of embryo arrest before day 5, or all embryos testing abnormal with PGT-A, this suggests significant egg quality issues.
Example: Sarah, 39, completed 4 cycles retrieving 8-12 eggs each time, but only 1-2 embryos reached day 5, and all tested abnormal. After switching to donor eggs, her first transfer succeeded.
Recurrent Miscarriages Due to Chromosomal Issues
If you've experienced multiple miscarriages (especially if testing confirmed chromosomal abnormalities), and you're over 40, continuing with your own eggs means facing high miscarriage rates even if you achieve pregnancy.
Emotional toll: Many couples decide the emotional cost of repeated pregnancy losses outweighs the desire for a genetic connection.
Financial or Time Constraints
If you have limited IVF coverage or savings, and your odds with own eggs are below 20%, donor eggs may be more cost-effective. Similarly, if time is critical (you want to be a younger parent, career considerations, etc.), the faster path to success matters.
ROI Analysis: Three cycles at 15% each ($60,000 with 38% cumulative chance) vs. one donor egg cycle ($35,000 with 55% chance).
Other Alternatives to Consider
Donor Embryos
Frozen embryos donated by couples who completed their families. Significantly less expensive than donor eggs ($3,000-$8,000 vs. $25,000-$40,000) with similar success rates.
Best for: Couples facing both male and female factor infertility, or those with severe financial constraints.
Adoption
Domestic infant adoption, foster-to-adopt, or international adoption. Costs vary widely ($20,000-$50,000+) and timelines are unpredictable, but offers a path to parenthood without pregnancy.
Best for: Those who want to be parents more than they want to experience pregnancy, or after multiple failed IVF attempts.
How to Maximize Your IVF Success Chances
While you can't change your age or underlying diagnosis, there are proven strategies to optimize your chances of IVF success. These interventions, based on research evidence, can improve outcomes by 10-30%:
1. Choose Your Clinic Wisely
Impact: 10-20% difference in success rates
Clinic quality varies dramatically. The best clinics achieve success rates 10-20% higher than average, primarily due to superior lab practices, experienced embryologists, and optimized protocols.
What to Look For:
- • Success rates above national average for your age group
- • High volume (300+ cycles annually for reliable statistics)
- • On-site embryology lab with experienced staff
- • Personalized protocol adjustment, not cookie-cutter approaches
- • Transparent about success rates and willing to discuss your specific prognosis
2. Optimize Your Health 3-6 Months Before Starting
Impact: 10-15% improvement possible
The eggs retrieved in your IVF cycle began maturing 3-4 months before retrieval. What you do during this "pre-conception" window can affect egg quality:
Diet Optimization:
- • Mediterranean diet (shown to improve IVF outcomes)
- • High in antioxidants (berries, leafy greens, nuts)
- • Omega-3 fatty acids (fish, flax, walnuts)
- • Minimize processed foods and trans fats
- • Limit caffeine to under 200mg daily
Supplements to Consider:
- • Prenatal vitamin with methylfolate
- • CoQ10 (200-600mg daily for egg quality)
- • Vitamin D (if deficient)
- • Omega-3 (1000-2000mg EPA+DHA)
- • Consult your RE before starting new supplements
3. Achieve Optimal BMI
Impact: 10-20% improvement if significantly over/underweight
BMI outside the 18.5-30 range can affect hormone levels, egg quality, medication response, and implantation rates. Even a 5-10% reduction in weight (if overweight) can improve outcomes.
Realistic Goal:
You don't need to reach "ideal" BMI before starting IVF if time is critical. Even modest improvements help. Work with a nutritionist familiar with fertility if BMI is a concern.
4. Eliminate Smoking and Limit Alcohol
Impact: 30-50% improvement from quitting smoking
Smoking is one of the most damaging factors for IVF success, reducing success rates by 30-50%. The good news: quitting for 3+ months before IVF can restore normal odds.
Evidence-Based Recommendations:
- • Smoking: Complete cessation 3+ months before IVF (affects both partners)
- • Alcohol: Limit to 1-2 drinks per week or eliminate entirely
- • Marijuana: Stop use; studies show negative effects on implantation
- • Vaping: Emerging evidence suggests similar harm to smoking
5. Manage Stress Effectively
Impact: Modest but meaningful (5-10%)
While stress alone doesn't cause IVF failure, chronic high stress can affect hormone levels and potentially impact implantation. More importantly, effective stress management improves your quality of life during treatment.
Evidence-Based Stress Reduction:
- • Acupuncture (multiple studies show potential benefits for IVF)
- • Mindfulness meditation or yoga
- • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for fertility-specific stress
- • Support groups (online or in-person)
- • Regular moderate exercise (but avoid intense exercise during stims)
6. Consider Additional Testing After Failed Cycles
Impact: Variable, depends on findings
After 2-3 failed transfers of good-quality embryos, additional testing may reveal treatable issues:
Uterine Evaluation:
- • Hysteroscopy to check for polyps, fibroids, scarring
- • Endometrial receptivity testing (ERA)
- • Saline sonogram for structural issues
Immunologic Testing:
- • Thyroid antibodies
- • Clotting disorders panel
- • Autoimmune screening
Real-World Case Studies: Understanding Individual IVF Journeys
Statistics provide general guidance, but every IVF journey is unique. These composite case studies (based on real patterns but with identifying details changed) illustrate how individual factors combine to create different outcomes:
Case Study 1: Emma, Age 34
Tubal factor infertility, good ovarian reserve
Profile:
- • AMH: 3.2 ng/mL (excellent)
- • FSH: 6.8 mIU/mL (normal)
- • BMI: 24 (optimal)
- • No smoking, occasional alcohol
IVF Cycle 1:
Retrieved 18 eggs → 14 fertilized → 8 day-5 blastocysts → Transferred 1 fresh (no PGT-A) → Positive pregnancy test → Healthy singleton birth
Outcome: Success on first transfer. Had 7 frozen embryos remaining and achieved second pregnancy from FET two years later.
Why it worked:
Young age, excellent ovarian reserve, straightforward diagnosis (tubal factor), healthy lifestyle, and good clinic. Her statistical chances were ~48% per cycle, and she beat those odds.
Case Study 2: Michelle, Age 39
Unexplained infertility, moderate ovarian reserve
Profile:
- • AMH: 1.4 ng/mL (normal but declining)
- • FSH: 9.2 mIU/mL (borderline)
- • BMI: 32 (elevated)
- • No smoking, social drinker
IVF Journey:
Cycle 1: Retrieved 8 eggs → 5 fertilized → 2 day-5 blasts → Fresh transfer → Chemical pregnancy (early loss)
Cycle 2: Retrieved 9 eggs → 6 fertilized → 3 day-5 blasts → PGT-A testing → 1 normal → FET → Negative
Before Cycle 3: Lost 15 pounds, added CoQ10, addressed suboptimal thyroid
Cycle 3: Retrieved 10 eggs → 7 fertilized → 4 day-5 blasts → PGT-A → 2 normal → FET → Successful pregnancy and birth
Outcome: Success after 3 cycles and lifestyle changes. Total cost ~$55,000. Time from first retrieval to birth: 18 months.
Lessons:
At 39 with borderline reserve, her per-cycle odds were ~25%. Three cycles gave her 58% cumulative chance. Weight loss and thyroid optimization likely helped. PGT-A prevented transfer of abnormal embryo, saving time.
Case Study 3: Jessica, Age 42
Diminished ovarian reserve, previous miscarriages
Profile:
- • AMH: 0.6 ng/mL (low)
- • FSH: 14.5 mIU/mL (elevated)
- • Two previous miscarriages (natural conception)
- • Partner: Normal sperm analysis
IVF Journey with Own Eggs:
Cycle 1: Retrieved 4 eggs → 2 fertilized → 0 made it to day 5
Cycle 2: Retrieved 3 eggs → 2 fertilized → 1 day-5 blast → PGT-A abnormal
Cycle 3: Canceled (poor response, only 1 follicle)
Cycle 4: Retrieved 5 eggs → 3 fertilized → 1 day-5 blast → PGT-A abnormal
Transition to Donor Eggs:
Donor cycle: 22 eggs retrieved → 18 fertilized → 10 day-5 blasts → PGT-A testing → 7 normal embryos
First FET: Successful pregnancy → Healthy baby boy
Outcome: After 4 unsuccessful cycles with own eggs ($75,000), achieved success with donor eggs ($32,000). Total spent: $107,000. Time to baby: 2.5 years.
Reflection:
Jessica wishes she'd moved to donor eggs after cycle 2. At 42 with DOR, her odds with own eggs were ~10% per cycle. After $50,000 with no viable embryos, donor eggs provided 7 normal embryos and 55% success rate. In retrospect, earlier transition would have saved time, money, and emotional toll.
Case Study 4: Priya, Age 36
PCOS, good response, recurrent implantation failure
Profile:
- • AMH: 6.8 ng/mL (very high, PCOS)
- • FSH: 5.2 mIU/mL (excellent)
- • BMI: 28
- • Irregular cycles, insulin resistance
IVF Journey:
Cycle 1: Retrieved 28 eggs (mild OHSS) → 20 fertilized → 12 day-5 blasts frozen → FET #1, #2, #3 all failed despite good quality
Testing after 3 failures: ERA test showed displaced window (needed 1 extra day of progesterone)
FET #4: With adjusted timing → Successful pregnancy → Twin girls (transferred 2 embryos)
Outcome: One retrieval provided 12 embryos. After ERA testing revealed timing issue, achieved success. Still has 8 frozen embryos remaining.
Key insight:
Despite excellent ovarian reserve and embryo quality, recurrent implantation failure led to ERA testing, which revealed her uterus needed a different progesterone duration. This shows why embryo quality isn't everything—the uterine environment and timing matter too.
Calculate Your Personalized IVF Success Rate
Get instant, evidence-based predictions tailored to your age, AMH, FSH, diagnosis, and other factors. Our calculator uses the latest CDC SART data to help you set realistic expectations and plan your fertility journey.
Try Free IVF Success Calculator NowNo signup required • Results in 30 seconds • 100% free
Related Articles
Glen Meade
Founder of ParentCalc
Glen is a parent, data analyst, and creator of ParentCalc. After navigating his own family's fertility journey, he combines statistical research with real-world experiences to help families make informed decisions about reproductive technology. His evidence-based calculators and comprehensive guides have helped thousands of families understand their IVF chances, plan for costs, and set realistic expectations during their fertility journeys.
Get IVF Success Tips & Research Updates
Join 10,000+ families receiving evidence-based fertility advice, success strategies, and the latest IVF research delivered to your inbox weekly.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy guaranteed.