What Does the Future of IVF Look Like Today?

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People seeking to conceive often turn to In vitro fertilization (IVF), for a variety of reasons. This artificial reproductive technology (ART), is commonly used to boost male and female factor infertility. While IVF success rates are much higher than most ARTs, not all women experience a successful outcome on their first cycle. IVF fertility success ranges depend on many factors:

  • Age
  • Genetic disease
  • Severe male factor infertility
  • Tubal factor infertility
  • Ovulatory disorders
  • Health issues like cancer, diabetes, endometriosis or thyroid problems

Any of these can hamper fertility making it harder for an embryo to implant in the uterus.

IVF Success Rates

The IVF success rates are dependent on maternal age; the younger her eggs, the higher the egg quality including normal genetics in the egg. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, and their eggs develop and reach maturity around the time of their first period. Since the quality and quantity of one’s eggs diminishes over time, IVF increases the number of eggs available in one month, boosting the odds of success. Since factors like age, genetics, and preceding health issues are not in your control, it’s good to focus on factors where your choices can have a positive impact on egg quality.

  • Abstaining from smoking (tobacco, marijuana, etc.)
  • Limiting alcohol consumption
  • Eating more fruits and vegetables
  • Limiting processed foods
  • Getting seven or more hours of sleep nightly
  • Practicing stress reduction methods

Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) IVF Success Rates

SART is the primary organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of IVF, or assisted reproductive technology (ART). The SART Clinic Report provides a comprehensive view of outcomes from treatment cycles for the majority of clinics across the country.  Below are national success rates of all member clinics.  To view individual clinic outcomes visit https://www.sart.org/.

  • Women younger than 35:  the percentage of live births using their own eggs is 51%.
  • Women 35-37 have a success rate of 38.3%.
  • Women 38-40 have a 25.1% success rate.
  • Women 41-42 have around a 12.7% success rate.
  • Women older than 42 have an IVF success rate of 4.1%. 

The Future of IVF

Fertility success rates using IVF have seen life changing fertility breakthroughs to help couples and society conceive. The ART market continues to grow thanks to increasing awareness of ART procedures, health insurance coverage and employer adoption of ART benefits. IVF’s role in fertility means it has an important effect on society with even more advances as the research community (and industry) continues working on boosting those success rates.

Within the next decade, anticipated advancements include optimized IVF protocols, personalized treatment advances and developing better diagnostic tools, helping determine egg quality, sperm, embryo and receiving uterus, as well as deciding the best timing to transfer embryos. A better understanding of embryo implantation and development will also support the development of improved diagnostics and the development of new drugs to boost success rates. We look forward to promising developments working on breakthroughs as the industry tackles technical obstacles along with regulatory and ethical factors:

Creating age-independent and limitless supply of sperm and egg cells can potentially make sperm and eggs from patients’ skin or other nonreproductive methods using stem cells. This In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG), is currently being tested in human cells in the laboratory, and is meant to help older women, women who can’t produce eggs and men who can’t produce sperm because of their genes or cancer treatment. 

Ethic Concerns

Reproductive health is a fascinating field of medicine and is on the cusp of many incredible advances. Ethical concerns naturally arise as embryo disposition, embryo farming and proper human life valuation is considered. As advancements move forward in areas such as the capability for human enhancements using a larger pool of embryos it’s important to work with a reputable clinic with Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologists.  Clinics participating in SART are adhering to the highest professional standards.  SART member clinics staff regularly attend professional meetings and are part of these very important discussions, which propel reproductive science forward.  

Our Idaho Utah Fertility team has helped many people with their fertility goals and look forward to helping you achieve yours, both ethically and compassionately. We welcome you to call us and schedule a visit. 

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