Trust & transparency

How to Read IVF Success Rates

Which number really matters, why clinic figures differ, and the questions to ask before you trust one.

Talk to the Dream Team Free consultation · No hidden fees

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Cemil ArslanFertility (IVF) specialist

Mert TunçSenior clinical embryologist Last reviewed: 4 October 2026

Short answer: the most useful figure is the live birth rate per embryo transfer, for patients of your age, with the number of cycles and the year. A “pregnancy rate” can look much higher than your chance of taking a baby home. In the UK, the average live birth rate per embryo transferred was 30% in 2024, using patients’ own eggs (HFEA).

Four numbers clinics quote

Measure	What it counts	Why it can mislead
Positive pregnancy test (β-hCG)	A positive blood test about 10–14 days after transfer	Includes very early losses; the highest and least useful number
Clinical pregnancy	A pregnancy sac seen on an ultrasound scan, usually at 6–7 weeks	Still includes later miscarriages
Ongoing pregnancy	A pregnancy continuing beyond the first trimester	Closer to the truth, but not a birth
Live birth	A baby born alive	The number that matters; the UK regulator (HFEA) reports this

“Per what?” — the number underneath

The same treatment can produce very different percentages depending on what is counted underneath:

per cycle started — includes cycles stopped before egg collection, so it is the lowest;
per egg collection;
per embryo transfer — the HFEA’s main measure;
per patient (cumulative) — can include several transfers over months, so it is higher.

Always ask which one a clinic is using.

Age matters most

With your own eggs, the chance of a live birth falls with age. HFEA figures for UK clinics in 2024 (fresh embryo transfers, own eggs):

Patient age	Live birth rate per embryo transferred
18–34	38%
All ages (average)	30%
43–44	8%

With donor eggs, the chance depends mainly on the donor’s age, not yours. Ask the clinic for its own live birth rate with donor eggs, measured the same way.

Red flags

A percentage with no definition (“83% success”).
No number of patients or cycles, and no year.
“Up to” figures, or only the best age group shown.
Comparisons with other countries without a source.
Promises of guaranteed results.

Questions to ask any clinic

Is this a live birth rate, or a pregnancy rate?
Per cycle, per egg collection, per embryo transfer, or per patient?
For which age group, and does it include all patients treated?
How many cycles is it based on, and for which year?
How many embryos were transferred each time?
Is the figure checked by anyone outside the clinic?

How we use success rates

We are a coordination service, so we do not have success rates of our own. We ask each partner clinic for its live birth rates by age group, and share them with you as the clinic gives them, with the measure and the year.

Choosing a clinic? Read Is IVF in North Cyprus safe? and how we choose our partner clinics.

FAQ

What is a good IVF success rate?

Compare like with like: a live birth rate per embryo transfer for your age group. In the UK in 2024 the average was 30%, and 38% for patients aged 18–34 (HFEA).

Are success rates in North Cyprus higher than in the UK?

We are not aware of independent, published data that compares clinics in North Cyprus with UK clinics. Be cautious of any claim that they are higher.

Why do some clinics abroad show very high numbers?

Usually because they report pregnancy rates instead of live births, use a cumulative or selected group of patients, or give no year and no patient numbers.

Sources: HFEA — Fertility treatment 2024: trends and figures (June 2026) · HFEA — Fertility treatment abroad

Free consultation

Ask us the difficult questions

We will explore your options together and arrange a consultation with a recommended clinic — no cost, no obligation, no hidden fees.

Book your free consultation