You’ve probably heard the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” Well, when it comes to in vitro fertilization (IVF, a form of assisted reproductive technology whereby doctors combine egg and sperm in a lab dish before transferring the embryo to the uterus, the saying is likely “try, try, and try some more. And maybe you’ll get the result you want.”
I might sound less-than-reassuring, but IVF can be challenging. Though it’s one of the most successful forms of assisted reproductive technology, the live birth rate from one IVF cycle is about 55.6% for people under 35, and 40.8% for folks between the ages of 35 and 37, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). The live birth rate falls to 4.1% for people over 42 years old, SART explains. And even for those who undergo in vitro fertilization treatment and become parents, it takes an average of 3.6 IVF cycles to achieve pregnancy, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).