What is a good IVF success rate?

There is no single good figure that applies to everyone, because outcomes depend heavily on age and individual circumstances. Compare like with like using HFEA's published data rather than looking for one universal number.

Why do clinic websites sometimes show higher numbers than HFEA data?

This can happen if a clinic reports a favourable subgroup, a particular year, or a different definition of success than the standard one HFEA uses. Always check exactly what is being measured.

Does age really matter that much?

HFEA published data shows outcomes are strongly associated with the age of the eggs used, generally becoming less favourable with increasing age, though this varies between individuals.

What's the difference between per cycle and per transfer figures?

Per cycle figures count from the start of stimulation, including cycles where no transfer happens at all. Per transfer figures only count cycles where an embryo was actually put back, so they are usually a higher number for the same group of patients.

Should I ask my clinic for their own figures?

Yes. Ask how their figures compare to the national data published by HFEA for people in a similar situation to yours, and ask what the figures mean in plain terms.

IVF success rates: how to read the numbers

Written by Zayn Miah & R KhanomLast updated 17 September 2026Not clinically reviewed

Short answer: IVF success rate figures can mean several different things: live birth rate per embryo transferred, clinical pregnancy rate, or cumulative live birth rate across a full course of treatment. A headline percentage on its own tells you very little unless you know the population it was measured in, the year, and the exact definition used. Always ask your clinic to explain the figure they quote you.

Why the same word can mean different numbers

When people say IVF success rate, they might be talking about clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate per embryo transferred, live birth rate per cycle started, or cumulative live birth rate across several transfers from one egg collection. These are not the same measurement and cannot be swapped for one another.

Clinical pregnancy rate

This usually means a pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound scan at an early stage. Not every clinical pregnancy goes on to become a live birth, so this figure is generally higher than a live birth rate.

Live birth rate per embryo transferred

This measures how often a transfer of one or more embryos results in at least one live birth. It depends heavily on the age of the person providing the eggs, the number and quality of embryos transferred, and whether the embryos were fresh or frozen.

Cumulative live birth rate

This adds up the chance of a live birth across all embryo transfers from a single round of egg collection, including any frozen embryos used later. It is generally the most useful figure if you want to understand the overall chance from one egg collection, rather than from a single transfer.

HFEA published data shows that live birth rates per embryo transferred are strongly linked to the age of the eggs used, generally falling as age increases, and that using donor eggs changes the picture because the donor's age matters rather than the recipient's age. Look at HFEA's own published figures rather than a clinic's marketing page for the national picture.

Why a clinic's figure is not directly comparable to another clinic's

Clinics treat different mix of patients, including different average ages, different causes of infertility and different numbers of previous cycles.
Some clinics report figures based on patients they consider likely to succeed, others report all-comer figures.
The year the data covers matters, since techniques and lab conditions change over time.
Sample size matters. A small clinic's percentage from a handful of cycles is far less stable than a national figure built on tens of thousands of cycles.

What to check before trusting a number

What exact outcome is being measured: pregnancy, birth, or per cycle, per transfer, or cumulative?
What year or years does the data cover?
What age group or patient group does it apply to?
Is it the clinic's own reported figure or an independently verified one, such as figures published by HFEA?

Where to find independently checked figures

HFEA publishes national data on IVF outcomes and also publishes individual clinic figures that have been checked, which lets you compare a clinic's data against the national picture using the same definitions. This is generally more reliable than a percentage quoted on a clinic's own website without context.

What no figure can tell you

No national or clinic-level statistic can tell you what will happen in your own treatment. Your own fertility history, age, diagnosis and the specifics of your embryos all affect your individual chances, and only your own clinical team, with your full history in front of them, can discuss what might realistically apply to you.

Questions people ask next

What is a good IVF success rate?: There is no single good figure that applies to everyone, because outcomes depend heavily on age and individual circumstances. Compare like with like using HFEA's published data rather than looking for one universal number.
Why do clinic websites sometimes show higher numbers than HFEA data?: This can happen if a clinic reports a favourable subgroup, a particular year, or a different definition of success than the standard one HFEA uses. Always check exactly what is being measured.
Does age really matter that much?: HFEA published data shows outcomes are strongly associated with the age of the eggs used, generally becoming less favourable with increasing age, though this varies between individuals.
What's the difference between per cycle and per transfer figures?: Per cycle figures count from the start of stimulation, including cycles where no transfer happens at all. Per transfer figures only count cycles where an embryo was actually put back, so they are usually a higher number for the same group of patients.
Should I ask my clinic for their own figures?: Yes. Ask how their figures compare to the national data published by HFEA for people in a similar situation to yours, and ask what the figures mean in plain terms.

Words on this page

Sources

Fertility treatment: trends and figures, HFEA. Link checked 17 September 2026.
Choose a fertility clinic, HFEA. Link checked 17 September 2026.
IVF: what is IVF and how does it work?, HFEA (UK fertility regulator). Link checked 17 September 2026.

Written by patients, not clinicians. This page has not yet been reviewed by a named fertility professional, so it explains published guidance and points you to the original source instead of giving medical advice. It is not medical advice. Decisions about your treatment belong with your own clinic. Read our editorial policy and corrections policy.