What the Latest SART Data Reveals About IVF Success Rates
The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART)—a national organization that sets industry standards and tracks treatment outcomes from fertility clinics across the U.S—releases updated IVF success rates each year. For patients considering treatment, this report offers one of the most comprehensive looks at how IVF is performing nationwide.
The most recent report, which features data from 2024*, marks an incredible milestone: for the first time ever, more than 100,000 babies in the United States were born through IVF in a single year. Additionally, 97% of these IVF births were singletons, meaning only a single baby was born. This trend reflects the increasing use of single embryo transfer, a change in practice that has helped lower the risks associated with higher-order pregnancies.
Understanding the story these numbers tell can help patients take a more informed and intentional approach to their care.
* Note: Because IVF outcomes take time to track, there is typically a two-year difference between the close of a treatment year and when the corresponding data is published. For example, an egg retrieval that happens in early 2024 may result in a frozen embryo transfer months later, with a live birth that doesn't occur until 2025. SART waits for all of those outcomes to be counted and verified before releasing the data.
What Does IVF "Success" Actually Mean?
When SART reports IVF success rates, they focus on the live birth rate, which is the percentage of treatment attempts that result in the delivery of a baby. This is considered the most meaningful outcome, since it reflects the full course of treatment rather than early milestones such as a positive pregnancy test.
SART reports outcomes by whether a birth is a singleton, twin, or higher-order multiple, with singleton births after 37 weeks of gestation generally considered the optimal outcome. Outcomes are further broken down by factors like patient age and whether eggs are from the patient or a donor, along with other treatment variables. These distinctions are important, as they help provide a more accurate picture of how different patients may respond to treatment.
Because these figures reflect national averages across a wide range of patients and circumstances, they are best understood as a general reference point, rather than a prediction of individual outcomes.
What Influences IVF Success?
Several factors play a significant role in shaping IVF outcomes, including:
Age, which remains one of the strongest predictors of IVF success. Because egg quantity and quality tend to decline with age, success rates are generally higher in younger patients using their own eggs or patients using donated eggs from younger women.
Diagnosis of the underlying cause of infertility. Factors such as diminished ovarian reserve, endometriosis, uterine abnormalities, or male factor infertility can all influence how a patient approaches and responds to IVF.
Treatment approach, which is tailored to each patient's individual needs. Decisions such as those around medication protocols, genetic testing, and fresh versus frozen embryo transfer can all influence outcomes in meaningful ways.
One of the most convenient aspects of the SART report is that it allows users to filter national data by diagnosis and other specific treatment variables, making it possible to look at outcomes for patient groups that more closely reflect your own circumstances. While these filters still don’t predict personal outcomes, they can provide more meaningful context and help guide conversations with your care team.
How to Use SART Data as a Patient
The SART report is best used as a benchmark, rather than a definitive measure of individual success. Instead of applying national statistics directly to your own situation, use them to frame questions for your doctor. For example, you may want to ask:
How do outcomes for patients with a similar profile compare to the national data?
How do patients with a similar profile to mine typically respond to treatment, and what adjustments could improve my outcomes
What are the biggest variables that could affect my outcome?
What does success realistically look like for me?
How many cycles do patients like me typically need?
Asking these questions can open up a more meaningful dialogue with your care team and help ensure your treatment plan is built around your specific circumstances.
IVF and Fertility Care at Kentucky Fertility Institute
Kentucky Fertility Institute is a proud member of SART, reflecting our commitment to meeting rigorous clinical standards and providing patients with transparent, trustworthy information. If you're ready to better understand your fertility and explore what treatment could look like for you, we're here to help. Contact us today to learn more.