Does anyone know what the success rates for IVF generally are? I am 29 and relatively healthy pouch-wise (hormones everything else are normal) - but the HSG showed both tubes are completely blocked, so it seems we are looking at IVF now. I am not as worried about the shots and procedures (how much worse than everything else we go through can it really be?) but I am wondering how often it doesn't work out. It is alot of emotion and money to invest...

-Jen

Jen - I'm not sure what the success or failure rate is for people in our situation going through IVF but there seems to have been some success based on the postings. My own experience was a positive one. We implanted one egg on our first IVF cycle and now have a 10 month old daughter. You're right, there is a lot of investment involved, both financially and emotionally, but from my own experience the results are so incredibly worth it there's no words for it. My daughter is absolutely the best thing that's ever happened to me and to say she's priceless doesn't even begin to touch the way I feel about her.

Good luck with whatever decision you make. This forum is a great support no matter what your situation.

Katrina

Success rates can vary widely from clinic to clinic, so do your research. Some clinics may claim higher success rates, but may not work with many women over 40 where rates tend to fall. Some clinics also don't work with cases where there isn't a great chance of success, which means their rates are higher.

Once you research the general rates, you'll want to meet with the reproductive endocrinologist and find out what protocol they would recommend for you and why. Then talk to lots of people to see what others' experiences have been. Check out this website for more info, cycle buddies, etc...www.ivfconnections.com

I had no identifiable reason for not getting pregnant - tubes okay, hubby okay, etc...but we tried 18 months with no luck. We did one fresh IVF cycle and got pregnant with my ds who is now 15 months old. We right now in the process of transferring our one remaining frozen embryo to try for a second child (embryo transfer around May 6th). The process was a lot less scary than I had worked it up to be in my mind, but I"m not sure I would go through another egg retrieval at this point.

Hi there,

Yes I understand where you are coming from. I was like that last October. I didn't research which place to go because I was recommend to see Dr. Hesla at Portland Center Reproductive Med. My sister in law went there for help it was a success. Look for clinics and find out what their expert fields are. My clinic has one of the highest success rate. I am currently 15 weeks pregnant with twins on first try. I was only 25 (just turned 26) when I went thru IVF. We couldn't get pregnant due to scar tissues surrounding the ovaries possible tubes too.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide to do. :-)

JillM: I am thrilled for your Embryo Transfer! I will be thinking of you and hoping for another BFP for you. Let me know how it goes. :-)

I had undergone IVF due in August 2003. We had success on the first go. The doctor said we probably had a better chance, because I wasn't nervous(having dealt with medical issues, and invasive procedures before). I also had a positive attitude. Which I can't say will help everyone, but it worked for me. Five and a half months after having my first born, I found out I was pregnant. I guess miracles do happen in mysterious ways. Good luck to you in whatever choices you make. Tanya

Thanks for all of the encouragement! At this point I think it is really more a matter of when rather than if (husband would have liked kids 5 years ago) Affording it is a whole nother story (insurance does not cover anything in CA). Hopefully we'll get the ball rolling sometime this summer.