Why IVF Success Rates Aren’t the Whole Story When Choosing a Clinic

If you’re researching IVF clinics, it’s natural to look at their published success rates. After all, those numbers seem like a clear, simple way to compare options. But here’s the truth: relying too heavily on them can be a costly mistake,  both emotionally and financially.

The Problem With IVF Success Rates

1. They can be misleading. Success rates aren’t always presented in the same way. Some clinics highlight their best-performing figures, or choose timeframes and patient groups that make their results look stronger than average.

2. Definitions of “success” vary. One clinic might define success as a positive pregnancy test, another might count it as a live birth. These are very different outcomes and unless you dig into the detail, you might not realise what’s actually being measured.

3. Marketing over clarity. Many clinics know that prospective patients shop by numbers. This can lead to “cherry-picked” statistics which are results that paint a clinic in the best possible light, while downplaying more average or less flattering data.

What Success Rates Don’t Tell You

A percentage on a website won’t tell you:

• How much experience the clinic has with patients of your age or medical background.

• What kind of personalised care and emotional support they offer.

• How transparent they are about costs and treatment options.

• How they handle complications or less common fertility issues.

What to Focus on Instead

When choosing an IVF clinic, look beyond the headline number. Consider:

• Experience with your specific circumstances - age, fertility diagnosis, previous treatment history.

• Approach to patient care - communication style, emotional support, and flexibility.

• Transparency - clear explanations of success definitions, costs, and treatment processes.

• Reputation and reviews - feedback from people with similar situations can be far more valuable than a percentage.

  
  

Success rates can be one part of your research, but they shouldn’t be the deciding factor. The best clinic for you is one that understands your unique needs, offers evidence-based treatment, and supports you as a whole person, not just a statistic.

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