About Our Format
We choose to use a graphical format based on the following
principle: If an IVF cycle was
started, what ultimately happened?
We believe that this is the fundamental question
behind a prospective patient's consideration of the treatment,
as well as the format that is least manipulated by changing
numerators or denominators, that ultimately change the
percentages and confuse a prospective patient. Even with
this "down and dirty" format, there are many variables to take
into consideration when evaluating success rates. All this
data is available at the CDC, but to put it in this format
requires some basic algebra to uncover what the ultimate outcome
numbers are for the initiated cycles.
There are 5 outcomes
that we provide prospective patients. We do this, not only
as a business, but also to help couples see the real chances for
which they need to be prepared. The outcomes we know of
are:
-
Cancelled
- For whatever reason, likely the safety of the patient
based on monitoring follicles and/or estrogen, the treatment
cycle was stopped.
-
Not-Pregnant
After Treatment Cycle - The treatment that was initiated
was not cancelled, but rather unsuccessfully completed.
-
Pregnancy Not
Carried to Term - For whatever reason, the clinical
pregnancy that the treatment assisted did not result in a
live baby. Officially the patient was pregnant, but
not "successful" in terms of creating a live baby.
-
Moms with Live
Twins or More - Based on the data provided, we cannot
differentiate twins, triplets, quads, or even twins that
used to be triplets, quads or other, but were reduced.
We can, however, calculate whether a mom was created as the
result of live twins or more. It is the patient's /
couple's decision whether or not this is considered a
success.
-
Moms with Live
Single Baby - Most rationale people would declare this a
success.
Other Formats
There are several other formats, that are widely available
throughout the Internet, that may provide some additional
insight, but ultimately leaves out some critical component
that would give a patient an overall perspective. Here are
a few we found:
-
Clinical
pregnancy rates per initiated cycle
-
Clinical
pregnancy rates per retrieval
-
Clinical
pregnancy rates per transfer
-
Live baby rate
per treatment cycle (eliminates cancelled cycles)
-
Live baby rate
per transfer (eliminates cancelled and cycles with poor
retrieval outcomes)
There are plenty of
others that are not part of this illustration.
