Cumulative Live-Birth Rates after In Vitro Fertilization

Among couples undergoing up to six cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) at one large infertility center, the overall live-birth rate was 72% with an optimistic analysis (assuming that women lost to follow-up had the same chance of pregnancy as women who continued treatment) and 51% with a conservative analysis (assuming that there were no live births among women lost to follow-up). These rates decreased significantly with increasing maternal age. Among couples undergoing up to six cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) at one large infertility center, the overall live-birth rate was 72% with an optimistic analysis and 51% with a conservative analysis. When a couple presents to a physician for a fertility evaluation and requires in vitro fertilization (IVF), their main question is whether this treatment will result in a baby. The statistic commonly quoted to couples is the outcome per cycle according to maternal age. The primary reason for the frequent use of this cross-sectional statistic is the simplicity with which it can be calculated. The national reporting systems in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand are cross-sectional and list IVF outcomes as pregnancies per cycle. However, this statistic has limited value for individual patients because it . . .