IVF Success Rates by Age
What the CDC data actually shows for each age group — with honest clinical context, cumulative probability tables, and age-specific recommendations.
National Average Live Birth Rate — Fresh IVF (own eggs)
CDC 2022 ART Surveillance Report
Age Under 35
National average live birth rate (fresh IVF, own eggs)
What this means
Patients under 35 have the strongest egg quality and ovarian reserve of any age group, which is why live birth rates peak here. Most patients in this range can expect a single egg retrieval to produce multiple viable embryos, giving multiple chances at transfer. Ovarian stimulation typically proceeds predictably, and miscarriage rates are the lowest of any age group (approximately 15%). Many patients under 35 succeed in one or two cycles.
How many cycles does it typically take?
| Cycles attempted | Cumulative probability |
|---|---|
| 1 cycle | 51.4% |
| 2 cycles | 76.4% |
| 3 cycles | 88.5% |
| 4 cycles | 94.4% |
| 5 cycles | 97.3% |
Calculated using: 1 − (1 − 0.514)^n. Assumes each cycle is independent. Individual results vary based on diagnosis and clinic.
Recommendation for this age group
Focus on selecting a clinic with CDC rates at or above 51% for this age group, a track record of successful single embryo transfer (to avoid twins), and a strong PGT-A program if you want to screen embryos before transfer.
Age 35–37
National average live birth rate (fresh IVF, own eggs)
What this means
Success rates remain strong in the 35–37 range, though the decline from the under-35 group is meaningful. Egg quality begins to decrease, and the proportion of chromosomally abnormal embryos rises — typically 40–50% at this age. Patients may need more stimulation, and it is common to retrieve 10–15 eggs but have fewer viable blastocysts after culture. Most patients in this group achieve success within 2–3 cycles.
How many cycles does it typically take?
| Cycles attempted | Cumulative probability |
|---|---|
| 1 cycle | 37.2% |
| 2 cycles | 60.6% |
| 3 cycles | 75.2% |
| 4 cycles | 84.4% |
| 5 cycles | 90.2% |
Calculated using: 1 − (1 − 0.37200000000000005)^n. Assumes each cycle is independent. Individual results vary based on diagnosis and clinic.
Recommendation for this age group
This is a good age to discuss PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing) with your physician. Testing embryos before transfer can improve per-transfer success rates and reduce miscarriage risk, though it does require freezing all embryos for a future frozen transfer.
Age 38–40
National average live birth rate (fresh IVF, own eggs)
What this means
The 38–40 range is where IVF complexity increases substantially. Ovarian reserve declines faster, stimulation response becomes less predictable, and the chromosomal abnormality rate in retrieved eggs can exceed 60%. Miscarriage risk is approximately 25–35%. However, a 22.6% national average still means that nearly 1 in 4 cycles results in a live birth — and patients who respond well to stimulation and produce multiple blastocysts have significantly better odds. Donor eggs are increasingly discussed at this age but are not yet the default recommendation for most patients.
How many cycles does it typically take?
| Cycles attempted | Cumulative probability |
|---|---|
| 1 cycle | 22.6% |
| 2 cycles | 40.1% |
| 3 cycles | 53.6% |
| 4 cycles | 64.1% |
| 5 cycles | 72.2% |
Calculated using: 1 − (1 − 0.226)^n. Assumes each cycle is independent. Individual results vary based on diagnosis and clinic.
Recommendation for this age group
Prioritize clinics with experience treating this age group specifically. Ask about their stimulation protocols for diminished ovarian reserve, their approach to poor responders, and their specific live birth rate for patients 38–40 — not the aggregate rate. Cumulative success across 3 cycles is meaningfully higher than a single-cycle rate.
Age 41–42
National average live birth rate (fresh IVF, own eggs)
What this means
At 41–42, the national live birth rate drops to 11% per cycle, reflecting the significant decline in egg quality at this age. The majority of eggs retrieved from patients in this group are chromosomally abnormal — many cycles produce no euploid (chromosomally normal) embryos. Miscarriage rates approach 40–50%. Patients in this group often require multiple egg retrievals to accumulate enough embryos for testing, and many eventually choose donor eggs to improve their odds. Clinics with experience banking embryos across multiple retrievals can achieve meaningfully better cumulative outcomes.
How many cycles does it typically take?
| Cycles attempted | Cumulative probability |
|---|---|
| 1 cycle | 11.0% |
| 2 cycles | 20.8% |
| 3 cycles | 29.5% |
| 4 cycles | 37.3% |
| 5 cycles | 44.2% |
Calculated using: 1 − (1 − 0.11)^n. Assumes each cycle is independent. Individual results vary based on diagnosis and clinic.
Recommendation for this age group
Have an honest conversation with your physician about expected embryo yield and the probability of producing a euploid embryo from a single cycle. Build a realistic multi-cycle plan with clear decision points. Ask specifically about your clinic's approach to the 41–42 age group and their actual live birth rates for this cohort.
Age Over 42
National average live birth rate (fresh IVF, own eggs)
What this means
At over 42, the national live birth rate using own eggs is 4.5% per cycle. The majority of cycles for this age group do not produce a viable embryo for transfer, and of those that do transfer, miscarriage rates exceed 50%. Most reproductive endocrinologists will be direct about the limitations of own-egg IVF at this age. However, it is worth noting that donor egg IVF — using eggs from a younger donor — can achieve live birth rates of 45–55% regardless of the recipient's age, making it the most effective path to a healthy pregnancy for most patients over 42.
How many cycles does it typically take?
| Cycles attempted | Cumulative probability |
|---|---|
| 1 cycle | 4.5% |
| 2 cycles | 8.8% |
| 3 cycles | 12.9% |
| 4 cycles | 16.8% |
| 5 cycles | 20.6% |
Calculated using: 1 − (1 − 0.045)^n. Assumes each cycle is independent. Individual results vary based on diagnosis and clinic.
Recommendation for this age group
If using own eggs is important to you, pursue it with realistic expectations and a clearly defined endpoint. Discuss donor egg IVF as a parallel consideration, not a last resort. Donor eggs have no biological age limitation for the recipient — your uterine health, not your egg quality, determines donor egg success.
Ready to compare clinics for your age group?
Use our comparison tool to see CDC-reported rates side by side for your specific age band.