It must definitely depend on the reason you are having IVF.
Our DD was conceived during our second IVF cycle. From the two cycles we got 32 eggs, which created 17 embryos suitable for PGD testing, and of those 17 only one single embryo was chromosomally normal (our precious DD). She was implanted and luckily she's now our sweet almost-10 month old.
At our transfer appointment I asked the nurse what the chances are of her resulting in a baby and I was told 20%. BUT, here's where that gets really subjective. The 20% that we were quoted is basically the "blanket" number that covers all couples that go through IVF. So, if you take into account everyone that goes through IVF, the average chance of a single embryo transfer resulting in a baby is apparently about 20%. That number didn't take into account the fact that in our particular circumstance we both had proven fertility (I'd previously been pregnant naturally twice which resulted in my DS), I had no issues that lessen the chance of implantation and pregnancy (like hormonal problems), we already knew our embryo was chromosomally healthy (which is not the case unless you have PGD and and I was told that up to 50% of embryos at day 3 are chromosomally abnormal. Yup! That high! I was stunned!) and we were basically going through IVF for PGD reasons, not fertility reasons. So our odds were surely much higher than the 20% we were told. Then compare that to some of the amazing ladies on here that go through IVF time and time again for some pretty major reasons and their chances seem to be much lower (very sadly) than the 20%.
I actually wish that the IVF clinics would do some more research into the "real" chances based on particular circumstances. It would still be hard for them to make an accurate "guess", but at least it might be a little closer than what some people are told and give people more real expectations that they hope for.
I was just about to get on to BB and ask the same question- and i found this thread which is great- i just received news that my 4th transfer failed, and no one has been able to tell me what the chances are after this amount of tries. I feel a bit more heartened though reading this thread- so this is still hope for me if i continue.....i have had 1 freshie, 1 FET, then again another 1 freshie and 1 FET- all BFN. Now i have to wait 2 months to have another go at a stim cycle.......
I tried naturally for 3 years, then did 2 IUI which failed and now 4 ET's which failed. Ive been really over it and jaded by it all- i wasnt sure if there was much point continuing.....but i sure will.....but it didnt help that yesterday i was forced to go to a maternity ward to visit a relative's newborn, that didnt help me at all....but im emotionally strong now after all ive had to go through and put up with.....ive had to be.....
Thanks for all the posts. im happy to know that there's others out there who were successful after 4 tries.......and i guess i will just keep on trying....
bianeczka, sorry to hear your transfer wasnt sucessful. ivf is hard, you invest so much emotion, hope & lets be honest -money - into it, its crushing when you dont get the results you so desperately want. but as you say - plenty of women in here have the bfp's after more than 4 transfers. i tend to agree that it is like a lottery, one that i hope we (and all the other ladies) win soon!
like you i TTC naturally for around 3 years, did the naturopath & TCM thing but didnt work for me. i have been doing ivf/icsi for 2 years and while i havent had success yet, i have managed to conceive twice. i have had: 1 x IUI, 4 x stim cylces = 7 transfers. i had 2 bfp's in my 2nd stim cycle (transfer no's 3 & 4), unfortunately both ending in early miscarriage. this may sound like a lot of transfers, but as i am in the unexplained category i guess i just have to keep trying. i have switched clinics recently and im hoping that a fresh approach might help. my previous FS told me that the average for a bfp is around 3 x stim cycles or 6-7 transfers. but i try not to think about the stats/odds too much (given that i am up to 4 stims & 7 transfers already!), bc i know that everyone's circumstances are different.
fingers crossed your next stim cycle in a couple of months gives you that perfect winning embryo.
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