Fertility Outcomes
By the Numbers
89.60%
Full Term Pregnancy Rate
63.50%
Live Birth Rate
59.30%
Clinical Pregnancy Rate per Embryo Transfer
Our Outcomes
Comparing clinic success rates can be misleading due to differences in patient characteristics, treatment approaches, and ART entry criteria, but we take pride in our outcomes because we focus on tailoring the right treatment for each patient, regardless of its impact on our "success" statistics.
At Palo Alto Medical Foundation, we are committed to providing transparent and accurate reporting of our IVF success rates, in accordance with the 1992 Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act. This Act ensures that the public, including patients and referring physicians, has access to truthful data on pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates from assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures, as seen on public websites like http://SART.org and http://CDC.gov. Our clinic has been a proud member of SART since 1989, and we are extremely proud that our IVF success rates are notably above the national average, reflecting the high level of care we provide to our patients.
- We won’t exclude you based on preliminary test results
- We often recommend simpler, less expensive treatments before advanced treatments such as in vitro fertilization, and many conceive and have a baby without IVF
- We give you all relevant treatment options, along with clear information about each option’s possibility of success, instead of directing you to specific treatments based only on prognosis
- We partner with you to determine the best treatment route. If you prefer to first try a particular treatment option, knowing there is a limited chance of success, we will honor that preference assuming it is medically safe and appropriate. Examples include trying intrauterine insemination before IVF, or using your own eggs instead of donor eggs.
Live Birth and Full Term Pregnancy Rates
Following SART guidelines, our 2018 data shows “Live Birth” rates for all cycles initiated, instead of “Pregnancy” or “Clinical Pregnancy” rates, which do not include live birth results.
PAMF Outcomes 2018, 2019 and 2021 as reported to CDC and SART
When we talk about IVF success rates, it’s important to know that success isn’t defined by just one moment. Instead, it’s a journey, much like climbing a mountain. Imagine the IVF process as a climb toward the summit. Along the way, there are different stages, just like there are points on the mountain before reaching the peak.
- At the base of the mountain, we start with ovarian stimulation, helping your body produce eggs.
- Next, we reach the middle stage with egg retrieval, where we collect the eggs.
- Some continue on to the embryo transfer stage, higher up the mountain.
- Finally, reaching the summit, we achieve the ultimate goal — a live birth.
Each stage has its own unique challenges, just like climbing the mountain, and each step is important when we talk about IVF success rates.
Understanding the Numerator and Denominator
Success rates are always measured as a fraction with a numerator (the end result, like a live birth) and a denominator (the starting point, like the initiation of ovarian stimulation). The most accurate way to measure IVF success rates is to focus on live birth rates (numerator) because a positive pregnancy test doesn’t always lead to a live birth.
But the denominator (starting point) can vary and be more complicated. Sometimes success rates are reported based only on patients who have reached the embryo transfer stage (live birth rates per embryo transfer, or per PGT-A tested embryo), but not everyone who begins an IVF cycle will make it to this stage. So, while success rates per embryo transfer may sound impressive, they don’t always reflect the full journey.
Cumulative Live Birth Rate: The Most Accurate Measure
To get the clearest picture of success, it’s important to look at the cumulative live birth rate per initiated cycle. This metric counts everyone who begins an IVF cycle, not just those who make it to embryo transfer. It shows the percentage of patients who reach the summit (live birth) starting from the base of the mountain (initiating ovarian stimulation). This gives a fuller, more realistic view of the success you can expect when you begin IVF treatment.
The following are the cumulative live birth rates per initiated cycle at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, based on the latest available finalized data for 2021, compared to the national average in the U.S:
| Age | <35 | 35-37 | 38-40 | 41-42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAMF 2021 | 62.70% | 48.80% | 41.70% | 16.10% |
| US National 2021 | 54% | 40.50% | 26% | 13.30% |
The following are the live birth rates per New Patient starting their first IVF cycle at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, based on the latest available finalized data for 2021, compared to the national average in the U.S:
| Age | <35 | 35-37 | 38-40 | 41-42 | >42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAMF 2021 | 71.30% | 68.80% | 51.60% | 25.90% | 10.00% |
| US National 2021 | 69% | 58.90% | 43% | 23.50% | 7.10% |
| Age | <35 | 35-37 | 38-40 | 41-42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAMF Final 2018 | 87.70% | 89.60% | 83.60% | 3 of 6 |
| US National Final 2018 | 83.80% | 83.70% | 83.60% | 85.70% |
| PAMF Preliminary 2019 | 98.10% | 80.60% | 87.00% | 4 of 5 |
| US National Preliminary 2019* | 85.20% | 85.70% | 84.80% | 85.30% |
*National 2019 final data pending
| Age | All Ages | <35 | 35-37 | 38-40 | 41-42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Embryos | 59.30% (n=84) | 61.40% (n=40) | 60.00% (n=27) | 40.00% (n=10) | 1 of 3 (n=3) |
| Frozen Embryos | 58.00% (n=308) | 61.90% (n=90) | 60.40% (n=94) | 56.30% (n=84) | 56.50% (n=84) |
We are members of and follow guidelines set forth by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), as well as other organizations setting standards of excellence for fertility treatment.
As a participating SART member, we report our treatment outcomes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which collects and reports on assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinic success rates.
SART provides helpful information on how to interpret success rates.
Per SART recommendations, it’s important to note that a comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic.