In vitro fertilization (IVF)

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Results

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your doctor will take a blood sample to detect pregnancy hormones about two weeks after egg retrieval. If you're pregnant, your doctor will refer you to an obstetrician or other pregnancy specialist for prenatal care. If you're not pregnant, you'll stop taking progesterone and likely get your period in one to three days. If you don't get your period or have unusual irregular bleeding, contact your doctor. He or she may examine you to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. If you're interested in attempting another cycle of in vitro fertilization, your doctor might suggest steps you can take to improve your chances of getting pregnant through in vitro fertilization.

The chances of giving birth to a healthy baby after using in vitro fertilization depend on various factors, including:

  • Maternal age. The younger you are, the more likely you are to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby using your own eggs during in vitro fertilization. Birth rates resulting from a cycle of in vitro fertilization using a woman's own fresh eggs are about 41 percent for women age 34 and younger, 31 percent for women ages 35 to 37, 22 percent for women ages 38 to 40, 12 percent for women ages 41 to 42, 5 percent for women older than ages 43 to 44, and 1 percent for women age 45 and older. Women age 41 and older are often counseled to consider using donor eggs during in vitro fertilization to increase the chances of success. Women who use fresh — not frozen — donor embryos typically have a live birth rate of about 50 percent.
  • Embryo status. The live birth rate is lower when frozen embryos are used instead of fresh embryos. The use of fresh or frozen sperm, however, hasn't been shown to affect success rates.
  • Reproductive history. Women who've previously given birth are more likely to be able to get pregnant using in vitro fertilization than are women who've never given birth. Success rates are lower for women who've previously used in vitro fertilization multiple times, but didn't get pregnant.
  • Cause of infertility. Having a normal supply of eggs increases your chances of being able to get pregnant using in vitro fertilization. Women who have endometriosis are less likely to be able to get pregnant using in vitro fertilization than are women who have tubal damage or blockage.
  • Lifestyle factors. Women who smoke typically have fewer eggs retrieved during in vitro fertilization. Smoking can lower a woman's chance of success using in vitro fertilization by 50 percent. Use of alcohol, recreational drugs, excessive caffeine — more than 200 milligrams a day — and certain medications also can be harmful.
What you can expect
References
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MY01648 Jan. 31, 2013

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