| When you're dreams of starting your own family | | | | numbers (their current report goes up to 2008). |
| naturally are cut short by infertility, you may have to | | | | With the ease of access to the numbers, it may be |
| resort to in vitro fertilization to keep your dreams | | | | tempting to just go right ahead and compare the |
| alive. However, IVF can cost a couple around $12,000 | | | | success rates of potential clinics and pick the one |
| per cycle and can take multiple cycles before a | | | | with the highest rate, but the CDC advises a more |
| successful birth. Before you go into it, you should | | | | cautious approach. To start, success rates are a |
| really know what to expect and a great way to get | | | | tricky number as they can be influenced by factors |
| the facts right is through statistics. However, even | | | | that do not show up in the stat sheet. For example, |
| though success rates and statistics for IVF | | | | some clinics, according to the CDC 2007 ART report, |
| procedures are readily available online, getting through | | | | accept and treat all patients interested in IVF |
| all the numbers and making sense of the data can be | | | | treatment, even those with lower chances of |
| a bit tricky. Here are some tips on where to begin. | | | | success, while others will have more stringent |
| Let's start with how to get the statistics. As | | | | requirements to keep their success rates up. The |
| mentioned above, the statistics and success rates | | | | clinics that take in more patients will suffer statistically |
| for most clinics are readily available on line. If you are | | | | but that is not a real objective description of the |
| a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of sifting through | | | | quality of their work. The CDC advises to use the |
| the hundreds of IVF provider's websites, a great | | | | stat report in correlation with direct contact with the |
| place to start is the Society of Assisted | | | | clinics. Talking to them about their report can clear up |
| Reproductive Technology (SART) website. The site | | | | many of your questions. |
| is already geared for the patient and is designed to | | | | Both the CDC and SART give great tools to help you |
| easily accommodate your statistical needs. The | | | | with the numbers. The CDC's ART report has a great |
| opening page already leads you to the IVF success | | | | guide (pages 81-90 on fertility tables) to help you |
| rate reports from both the national and clinical levels | | | | better understand the terms and figures. The SART |
| of all their member clinics (which numbers at 392, | | | | website offers many helpful features in showing you |
| accounting for 85% of all the ART clinics nationwide | | | | the numbers that you need. SART success rates can |
| according to their website). The clinical level reports | | | | be organized by the cause of infertility; giving you an |
| are divided per state, making it easier for you to | | | | idea of the chances of success should you or your |
| localize your search. Included in the reports are the | | | | loved one be afflicted by a similar type of infertility. |
| basic need-to-know stats and the contact data of | | | | For example, on the national level, the success rate |
| their affiliate clinics. Another great resource for data | | | | for live births for all SART member clinics in 2008 |
| is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | was 41.3% of all attempted cycles for all diagnosed |
| (CDC) website which has a downloadable PDF file of | | | | cases. But the numbers for cases diagnosed solely on |
| their Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) | | | | male factors for infertility rises to 44.4%. |
| Report, a comprehensive report on the IVF | | | | With the proper resources, the numbers are steadily |
| treatment providers in the US (the most current | | | | growing in your favor. This is just the tip of the |
| report is dated 2007, released in 2009). Although the | | | | iceberg, though. The actual task of analyzing the |
| CDC report is definitely more comprehensive, it also | | | | stats and further research are still ahead, not to |
| takes more time for them to consolidate their | | | | mention the actual process of IVF itself. But if it |
| reports and may take more than a year to release. | | | | means getting your own family, then it may all be |
| The SART website offers faster updates on their | | | | well worth it. |