In vitro fertilization (IVF) success is influenced by a complex interplay of various factors ranging from medical conditions and lifestyle choices to the technical aspects of the IVF procedure itself. Understanding these factors can help patients and clinicians optimize the chances of a successful outcome. At North Cyprus IVF Center, we understand that success of an IVF cycle is what makes a difference in a couple’s life. Let’s take a look at factors determining the success of an IVF treatment.
1. Age of the Female Patient
Age is the single most important factor in IVF success. However, this is not an attribute to age as a number, but more so for what it represents from a reproductive point of view. The age of a woman is critically important in IVF success primarily due to its impact on egg quality and quantity, which are decisive factors in the outcomes of IVF treatments. Following are some of the biological and physiological mechanisms that link a woman’s age to IVF success rates:
The cumulative effect of these factors explains why the age of a woman is a pivotal determinant of IVF success. It influences both the chances of obtaining viable, genetically normal oocytes and the capability of these oocytes to develop into healthy embryos capable of successful implantation and pregnancy. This complex interplay underscores the challenges faced in reproductive medicine as maternal age increases, highlighting the importance of tailored approaches to IVF that consider the age and specific reproductive health profile of each patient.
2. Sperm Quality
The quality of the sperm used can also affect IVF success. Factors such as sperm motility (the ability of sperm to move efficiently), morphology (the shape and size of sperm), and concentration are crucial. Poor sperm quality can lead to issues with fertilization and embryo development.
Sperm quality is crucial in determining the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) due to its fundamental role in the fertilization process and subsequent embryo development. Sperm quality is typically assessed by parameters such as concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. Below are the main considerations when talking about sperm quality:
The integrity of sperm DNA is vital. DNA fragmentation in sperm can result from oxidative stress or apoptosis during spermatogenesis. High levels of DNA fragmentation are associated with reduced fertilization rates, poor embryo development, and lower pregnancy rates. Oxidative stress leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can damage the DNA in sperm. Antioxidant defense mechanisms are crucial in protecting sperm DNA from oxidative damage. More information on improving sperm parameters can be found on our “Sperm Anti-Aging Protocol” page.
Each of these sperm parameters plays a fundamental role in the complex process of fertilization and early embryonic development. The biochemical and physiological health of sperm directly impacts the efficiency of these processes in IVF, influencing outcomes from fertilization success to implantation and beyond. Optimizing sperm health is thus integral to enhancing IVF success rates, underscoring the importance of assessing and addressing any deficiencies in these parameters during fertility treatments. For more information on how to optimize sperm health, you can visit our ‘Sperm Anti-Aging Protocol’ page.
3. Underlying Fertility Issues
The specific reasons for infertility — such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine abnormalities, or genetic anomalies— can affect the success rates of IVF. Each condition may require specialized approaches during the IVF process.
4. Lifestyle Factors
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, excessive weight, and stress are known to affect fertility. Lifestyle cannot be thought of independently from the oocyte and sperm quality issues as lifestyle choices are directly related to these parameters. For instance, oocyte aging is not only a result of internal mechanisms, but also an outcome of what kinds of toxins, chemicals and inflammatory factors a person has been exposed to. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise, reducing stress, and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol can improve the chances of IVF success.
5. Protocol and Medication
It goes without saying that the protocols used for ovarian stimulation need be tailored to a woman’s specific age, hormonal profile, and response in previous cycles. The type and dosage of fertility drugs can affect the number and quality of eggs retrieved.
6. Embryo Quality
Embryo quality can be seen as a combination of egg and sperm quality parameters. However, in a given IVF cycle, not all the embryos will have a correct genetic composition. Even when the patients are quite young, there will still be a small percentage of chromosomal aneuploidy with some embryos. As a female patient’s age goes up, so will the rate of aneuploidy observed in embryos created in an IVF cycle. Techniques like preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can help select embryos with the highest potential for successful pregnancy. You can read more about embryo quality and grading on our ‘Embryo Grading System‘ page.
7. Laboratory Environment and the Transfer Technique
The quality of the laboratory where the embryos are cultured plays a critical role. Factors such as air quality, temperature, and the expertise of the embryologists can all impact the viability of the embryos. Conditions under which embryos are handled prior to transfer are vital. Factors like temperature, pH, and exposure to light and air can affect embryo viability. Minimizing the time embryos spend outside the incubator and ensuring rapid and careful loading into the catheter are crucial to maintaining their viability.
Similarly, the technique of embryo transfer in IVF is a critical step that significantly affects the success rates of implantation and ongoing pregnancy. The procedure should be as gentle and precise as possible to increase the chances of implantation. This procedure involves transferring embryos into the uterus and is the culmination of the complex IVF process. It appears straightforward, but the subtleties of how the transfer is performed can have profound impacts on the outcome.
The type and flexibility of the transfer catheter can affect the ease and precision of the transfer. Soft catheters are generally preferred as they are less likely to cause trauma to the uterine lining. Trauma and bleeding during an embryo transfer process are known to have a detrimental effect on success outcomes. The skill and experience of the clinician performing the transfer are also paramount. A gentle technique that avoids touching the uterine fundus is crucial to minimize contractions and disruptions that might expel the embryo.
Using ultrasound to guide the embryo transfer enhances precision in depositing the embryo at an optimal location within the uterus, generally 1-2 cm from the uterine fundus.
8. Endometrial Receptivity
The condition of the uterine lining, or endometrium, when the embryo is transferred is key. Adequate preparation of the endometrium, typically using estrogen and progesterone, is essential to make it receptive to the embryo. The thickness and pattern of the endometrial lining, assessed by ultrasound, are indicators of its receptivity. The endometrium has a limited window of receptivity, known as the implantation window. Misalignment between the embryo’s developmental stage and this window can reduce the likelihood of successful implantation. This synchronization between the development stage of the embryo (whether it’s a day-3 or a blastocyst on day-5) and the phase of the endometrial cycle is key.
9. Psychological Factors
The psychological stress associated with undergoing IVF can impact its success. Ensuring that the patient is relaxed and comfortable during the procedure can reduce uterine contractions, which might affect embryo placement. Psychological support and counseling as well as relaxation and mindfulness techniques prior to the embryo transfer procedure might help alleviate stress and improve outcomes.
Successful IVF depends on carefully balancing and optimizing all of these factors. For prospective parents, understanding these elements can help in making informed decisions about their treatment options.
IVF Success Rates at North Cyprus IVF Center for the year 2023:
North Cyprus IVF Centre is a patient-centered fertility clinic which not only treats, but also researches and produces clinical studies. With an active quest for knowledge and improvement, our clinic is one of the most advanced fertility clinics in the world. There are several factors that contribute to the success of North Cyprus IVF Centre. These include:
Accumulation of know-how and experience within the past 24 years as we are the very first fertility treatment clinic in the region. Practice makes perfect! As the oldest clinic in Northern Cyprus, we reserve the first place to ourselves when it comes to successful IVF outcomes! In a 24 year-old IVF clinic, there are no rooms for trial and error.
We are not just an IVF clinic, but also a research centre with own research team who investigate the underlying causes of infertility both at the patient level and the global level, allowing us to provide you with customized care. Our genetics laboratory and our clinical trial programs provide us constant support for improving our approaches and excelling at what we do.
Our egg donor program only admits donors aged between 19-25 who have donated before and contributed to a positive pregnancy, therefore, we only use pregnancy proven fertile and healthy egg donors which is one of the main contributors of success in donor program. This is precisely why we have been named the “Leading IVF Clinic in Donor Egg treatments”. Success rates for IVF with egg donation tends to run higher than 70% as an overall rate at North Cyprus IVF Clinic.
We are able to transfer up to 3 embryos legally, increasing your chances of success with IVF treatments compared to a lower number of embryos transferred. It is not just the number of embryos that matters, but the quality of these embryos as well that make all the difference when it comes to success. Our MicroChip sperm selection method and our time-lapse embryo screening systems allow us to make sure we offer you a state of the art treatment which aims to maximize the quality of your embryos during your IVF cycle.
We offer ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) free of charge as a standard procedure with all our IVF treatments to all our patients.
We are able to offer non-conventional methods and approaches such as Cytoplasmic Transfer, MRT, Ovarian PRP to patients in older age brackets as well as many other clinical trials to patients who qualify. This is also a factor which contributes to success via improved embryo quality.
We make sure that you are offered a custom prepared treatment protocol geared toward your specific needs and requirements.
And finally, Dr. Savas is a pioneer in the field of infertility!
North Cyprus IVF Centre
North Cyprus IVF Centre is a patient focused fertility clinic, located within “Elite Research and Surgical Hospital” in Nicosia, Cyprus. Our clinic is one of the most advanced fertility clinics in the world, offering a wider selection of treatment options at affordable prices.
Contact Us
Phone
English: +90 548 875 8000
French: +90 548 876 8000
Turkish: +90 542 869 8000
Arabic: +90 548 875 8000
German: +90 548 830 1987
Russian: +90 548 828 9955
info@northcyprusivf.net
© 2020 LowCostIVF - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
© 2020 LowCostIVF - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy