Australian IVF outcomes · ANZARD data
IVF success rates in Australia by age
Live birth rate per IVF cycle started, drawn from the Australia and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database (ANZARD). Updated against the most recent ANZARD Annual Report. International context is included from HFEA (UK) and SART (US) – methodology notes are important.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Live birth per IVF cycle started in Australia (ANZARD): about 38% under 35, 31% at 35–37, 22% at 38–40, 12% at 41–42, 5% at 43–44, under 2% at 45+.
- ✓Cumulative live birth over three cycles is roughly 63% under 35 and 40% at 38–40. Most patients should budget for two to three cycles rather than expecting first-cycle success.
- ✓ANZARD (anzard.org.au) is the authoritative Australian source. Clinic-level rates are published on each clinic’s own site and vary materially around the national average.
- ✓Per-transfer rates (commonly used in US SART reporting) look higher than per-cycle-started rates because cancelled cycles are excluded. Compare like-for-like.
- ✓Donor egg success follows the donor’s age, not the recipient’s – typically 40–55% live birth per transfer. Australian donation is altruistic only, so waits can be long.
Source data · ANZARD
Live birth rate per cycle started, by age
Per cycle started, autologous embryos (your own eggs), Australian patients. Figures from the ANZARD Annual Report at anzard.org.au. National averages – your clinic’s published figure is the one to compare against.
| Age band | Per-cycle live birth | Cumulative (3 cycles) | Clinical context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | ~38% | ~63% | Best outcomes. Most embryos chromosomally normal. ANZARD national average. |
| 35–37 | ~31% | ~54% | Decline begins. AMH testing useful for protocol selection. |
| 38–40 | ~22% | ~40% | Sharp decline. PGT-A increasingly considered to reduce miscarriage. |
| 41–42 | ~12% | ~23% | Aneuploidy rate above 60% of embryos. Donor egg increasingly discussed. |
| 43–44 | ~5% | ~10% | Most clinics will counsel realistically about donor egg pathway. |
| 45+ | Under 2% | Under 5% | Autologous success rare. Donor egg cycles maintain age-of-donor success rates. |
Notes: cumulative figures are rough projections of repeated cycles, not a guarantee. Real-world cumulative success depends on patient response, embryo number per cycle, and whether to switch to donor egg. ANZARD publishes the underlying data quarterly.
International context
ANZARD vs HFEA (UK) vs SART (US)
Each regulator publishes per-age outcomes, but methodology differs. SART (US) is commonly reported per embryo transfer, which excludes cancelled cycles and looks materially higher than per-cycle-started figures. Use this table as orientation, not a clinic-quality benchmark.
| Source | Under 35 | Age 38–40 | Age 43+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANZARD (Australia + NZ) | ~38% | ~22% | Under 5% |
| HFEA (UK) | ~32% | ~19% | Under 4% |
| SART (US) | ~46% (transfer) | ~24% (transfer) | Under 5% |
Source URLs: ANZARD anzard.org.au · HFEA hfea.gov.uk · SART sartcorsonline.com.
How to read a clinic’s rate
A higher number isn’t always better
Clinics that turn away complex cases publish higher averages. Clinics that accept advanced maternal age, low AMH, severe male factor or recurrent loss will publish lower headline figures because they treat a harder cohort. Compare a clinic’s outcomes for patients in your age band and clinical situation, not their overall headline.
- Ask for live birth per cycle started, not per transfer.
- Ask for figures in your age band, not the all-age average.
- Ask how many cycles per patient on average – repeat patients distort averages.
What success rate doesn’t capture
Numbers are a small part of the decision
Continuity of care, after-hours access in a stim cycle, counselling support, the specific protocol on offer (antagonist, long agonist, mild stim), and your relationship with your treating clinician all materially affect the experience. Many patients switch clinics not for a higher headline rate but for a clinician who listens.
- Read the donor program eligibility carefully if you may need it later.
- Ask how the clinic handles a poor responder or first failed cycle.
- Ask whether your nominated specialist will personally do retrieval and transfer.
General information only
This page summarises publicly available outcome data. It is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation with an AHPRA-registered fertility specialist. Decisions about treatment, protocol selection and donor pathways should be made with your treating clinician.
Common questions
IVF success rates – common questions
What is the IVF success rate per cycle in Australia?
For women under 35 the live birth rate is around 38% per cycle started, falling to about 22% at 38–40, 12% at 41–42, and under 2% at 45+. ANZARD publishes the authoritative national figures every year at anzard.org.au – your specific clinic’s published rate is the number to compare against.
How many IVF cycles will I need?
Across all ages the cumulative live birth rate climbs with each cycle. Under 35 about 63% of women have a live birth within three cycles. At 38–40 that figure is around 40%. Most fertility specialists counsel patients to budget for two to three cycles rather than expecting success on the first.
Is the success rate the same at every clinic?
No. Clinics differ on patient case mix (some accept harder cases), laboratory technology, and protocol experience. A clinic with a lower headline rate may be the right clinic for a complex case. Compare ANZARD age-banded figures, not the marketing-page number.
Why are SART (US) figures higher than ANZARD?
SART US figures are commonly reported as live birth per embryo transfer, while ANZARD figures are typically per cycle started. Per-transfer rates always look higher because cycles that never reach transfer (cancellation, no viable embryo) are excluded. Use per-cycle-started for honest comparison.
Does PGT-A improve my chance of a live birth?
PGT-A reduces miscarriage and shortens time to live birth in older women (38+), but for women under 35 the benefit is contested and per-embryo cost is significant. The 2024 ESHRE position supports use in advanced maternal age, recurrent miscarriage and recurrent implantation failure. Discuss with your specialist.
What about donor egg success rates?
Donor egg cycles take their success rate from the donor’s age, not the recipient’s. Donor-egg live birth per transfer is typically 40–55% regardless of recipient age (subject to uterine receptivity). In Australia donation is altruistic only, so wait times can be long.