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Pacific Fertility Center’s IVF Laboratory Statistics for 2009
Our Program
Comparing IVF programs by published statistics requires some insight into why programs may or may not be different. We have listed some key points below to facilitate your understanding of our statistics.
At Pacific Fertility Center we review each patient’s individual situation. We believe that all patients should be given the necessary information to help them make decisions concerning treatment based on their goals, diagnosis, and expected outcome. Some centers turn away or discourage treatment for patients with a challenging diagnosis, such as decreased ovarian reserve or severe endometriosis, in an effort to have higher pregnancy results. We believe that the decision to proceed with treatment is an individual one and we will provide an accurate assessment of your potential success rates.
Some factors associated with Pacific Fertility Center statistics:
- Pacific Fertility Center does not restrict IVF to only those patients most likely to succeed, (a practice which often leads to higher pregnancy rates). Our less restrictive approach is confirmed by our high percentage of Decreased Ovarian Reserve, DOR (a basal FSH level of 10 mIU/mL or higher). As reported by SART/CDC in 2008, 24% of PFC patients were diagnosed with DOR, which compares to 14% nationwide.
- PFC performs a substantial volume of IVF and oocyte donor cycles. This allows for better statistical accuracy of our data, (the fewer number of patients - the less statistically significant the rates become).
- Although we individualize treatment to each patient’s diagnosis and prognosis, our goal is to adhere to ASRM guidelines on the maximum number of embryos to transfer, in order to lower the risk of high order multiples.
Pacific Fertility Center (PFC) is pleased to share our in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy rates for 2009. Our outstanding IVF pregnancy rates are made possible thanks to our team of ABOG* board certified specialists in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, as well as, highly trained embryologists. *American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pacific Fertility Center Preliminary Clinical Pregnancy Rates for 2009*
| Oocyte Donation |
| |
Fresh |
Frozen |
| Number of Cycles |
173 |
146 |
| Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
66% |
38% |
| IVF – Own Egg |
| Age |
<35 |
35-37 |
38-40 |
41-42 |
>42 |
| Number of Cycles |
170 |
144 |
175 |
89 |
45 |
| Clinical Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
44% |
43% |
29% |
17% |
11% |
| IVF – Own Egg, Day 5 Transfer Only |
| Age |
<35 |
35-37 |
38-40 |
41-42 |
>42 |
| Number of Cycles |
117 |
81 |
66 |
25 |
10 |
| Clinical Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
56% |
52% |
30% |
28% |
10% |
| PGS/PGD – Own Egg, < 40 years of age |
| Number of cycles |
32 |
| Clinical Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
31% |
Elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET)
| Oocyte Donation |
| Number of Cycles |
90 |
| Clinical Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
64% |
| Multiple pregnancy (identical twins) |
2 |
| IVF – Own Egg, < 40 years of age |
| Number of cycles |
41 |
| Clinical Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
50.7% |
| Multiple Pregnancy (identical twins) |
1 |
Delivered Pregnancy Rates for 2008 - Live Births (as reported to SART and CDC)
| Oocyte Donation – All |
| |
Fresh |
Frozen |
| Number of Cycles |
182 |
160 |
| Delivered Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
51.6% |
26.2% |
| IVF – Own Egg |
| Age |
<35 |
35-37 |
38-40 |
41-42 |
43-44 |
| Number of Cycles |
214 |
177 |
208 |
150 |
78 |
| Delivered Pregnancy Rate per transfer |
42.9% |
37.4% |
30.7% |
17.9% |
10.9% |
* Clinical pregnancy reflects the finding of a pregnancy sac in the uterus following transfer. Delivered pregnancy rate will be lower after accounting for miscarriage and pregnancy loss, particularly in older age groups.
Pregnancy rates are reported as clinical pregnancies per transfer. Delivery rates per transfer will be available near the end of 2009 when all babies have been born. More information is available by contacting Pacific Fertility Center. We urge caution when comparing statistics of one center with that of another. Be advised that a comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic.
2009 IVF Highlights:
Single Embryo Transfer (SET)
Of the patients using donor eggs, 67% (58 of 87) became pregnant with a Single Embryo Transfer. Of the patients using their own eggs, 53% (35 of 66), became pregnant with the transfer of a single embryo.
Improved Frozen Embryo Success:
Pregnancy rates with frozen embryos have never been better. This program requires the utmost skill and quality control in the laboratory to keep embryos viable using the new vitrification process. In women using their own eggs frozen on day 5, 37% became pregnant (86 of 229)*. We expect these pregnancy rates to continue to improve as the vitrification process is used to freeze more of our embryos.
* For day 5 (blastocyst) vitrification, 40% (95 of 185) became pregnant
Day 5 (Blastocyst Transfers)
Selecting day 5 fresh embryo transfers, we achieved a 48% pregnancy rate per transfer for women under age 35 and 52% for women 35 - 37 using their own oocytes (eggs). Also, remarkably, we achieved a 42% pregnancy rate per transfer (126 of 299) for women of all ages using their own oocytes (eggs).
Outstanding Oocyte Donation Pregnancy Rates:
Oocyte donation pregnancy rates are one of the best indicators of an outstanding IVF program. Last year we achieved a 66% pregnancy rate per transfer in women using donated oocytes. This is especially impressive since 59% of all fresh egg donor embryo transfers were single-embryo transfers.
PFC's investment in enhanced methods of embryo culture has improved outcomes with IVF. New incubators, culture media, and procedures have increased embryo quality and embryo implantation rates.
These improvements have lead to excellent success with single embryo transfers and have significantly reduced the risk of multiples. Frozen embryo success rates also improved in 2009. We attribute this success to the new method of freezing day 5 embryos called vitrification. This is the same process that has resulted in the birth of our first baby conceived from a frozen egg. PFC trains embryologists from around the world in our technique for blastocyst vitrification.
IVF Success Rates: What Do They Really Mean?
Couples and individuals facing fertility challenges deserve exceptional treatment. Our doctors provide excellent care and have access to the latest technology. Other physicians continue to recognize that our doctors treat patients who have challenging diagnoses with superior care. As an affirmation of our exceptional medical care, every one of Pacific Fertility Center's physicians have been selected as a "Best Doctor" (see BestDoctors.com)
Pacific Fertility Center is a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). A unique quality of our clinic is that all of our physicians are Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) as Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialists. All physicians are also members of the prestigious Society for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (see socrei.org)
In addition, our IVF laboratory is fully certified by the laboratory accreditation program of the College of American Pathologists - American Society for Reproductive Medicine (CAP-ASRM). This rigorous certification program provides assurance to our patients that the highest IVF laboratory standards are being met.
It is thanks to the embryologists’ meticulous work that our IVF laboratory repeatedly receives CAP accreditations with a perfect score in January 2009 in the many aspects of the on-site testing criteria. And of the more than 600 testing areas, the center was up to standard in each one!
The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology or SART (sart.org) has developed a national database for reporting fertility treatment outcomes. The report is generated by SART and published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This system assures consistency in reporting clinic outcomes around the country.
Keep in mind that the SART report includes only data for IVF treatment, and does not include pregnancies from intrauterine insemination, ovulation induction, or surgery. Also, since all data undergoes a rigorous review process and takes over a year to publish, the CDC reporting usually lags behind the most current data by at least two years.
We urge caution when comparing statistics of one center with that of another. Be advised that a comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic.
According to SART:
"Many people considering ART will want to use this report to find the "best" clinic. However, comparisons between clinics must be made with caution. Many factors contribute to the success of an ART procedure. Some factors are related to the training and experience of the ART clinic and laboratory professionals and the quality of services they provide. Other factors are related to the patients themselves, such as their age and the cause of their infertility. Some clinics may be more willing than others to accept patients with low chances of success or may specialize in various ART treatments that attract particular types of patients." Click here for the complete text of "Introduction to Fertility Clinic Tables,"
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