Our success rates
The results below are based on the Lister Fertility Clinic ethos of not specifically selecting the patients we treat. This can be illustrated by the fact that at the Lister Fertility Clinic from 2014-2019 40% of our cycles are performed on either those who meet the Bologna criteria for “poor responders" or have had multiple previous cycles.
Also the average of patients having IVF in the UK is 35.5 with 65% under 37 (Fertility Trends 2017: HFEA). In contrast, at the Lister the average is 37.5 with 34% under 37.
This ethos and our continued success into 2023 has seen us proudly pass the 21,000 mark for babies born from treatments under our dedicated team.
The HFEA now recommends clinic success rates be predominantly presented as livebirth per embryo transferred (PET) as it promotes embryo transfer practices that minimises the chances of twins, which carry health risks for the babies and the mother. Also it is a fairer assessment of outcome as the unnecessary transfer of multiple embryos against national guidelines and despite the risks involved, which does still occur can artificially inflate success rates.
Our results can be analysed in more detail and personalized by using our Fertility calculator, based on data collected at the Lister Fertility Clinic over a 5 year period
IVF/ICSI Birth per embryo data 2016- 2018
Birth per embryo is calculated as the number of births (counted as single birth events i.e. twins count as 1 birth event) divided by the number of embryos transferred. This outcome measure best promotes embryo transfer practices that minimises the chance of twins, which carry significant health risks for babies and mothers
IVF/ICSI Birth per egg collection 2016- 2018
With the improved frozen embryo success rates, an increasing number of cycles lead to embryos being frozen without a transfer on medical grounds.
A further useful assessment of outcomes is therefore “Birth per collection” (also known as cumulative livebirth) which shows the chance of success from the fresh and frozen embryo transfers for at least two years following a single stimulation cycle and egg collection. This gives an overall picture of success rates for a full course of treatment by detailing what proportion of women undertaking an egg collection subsequently achieve a birth. It is important to note that once a livebirth is achieved , further births are not added to the data.
There is no national direct comparison for “Births per collection”. We feel that by giving our level of detail, rather than using the HFEA’s more limited age ranges of only below and above 38, we can more fairly inform, particularly in the older age brackets where many clinics may be more reluctant to treat.
Frozen Transfer Cycles - Live birth data 2016- 2018
**Number of births (counted as single birth events i.e. twins count as 1 birth event) divided by the number of embryos transferred
***Number of births (counted as single birth events i.e. twins count as 1 birth event) per transfer cycle where an embryo is transferred
Egg Donation Cycles - Live birth data 2016- 2018 (434 cycles)
* Number of births (counted as single birth events i.e. twins count as 1 birth event) divided by the number of embryos transferred
** Number of births (counted as single birth events i.e. twins count as 1 birth event) per donor stimulation cycle started
*** Number of births (counted as single birth events i.e. twins count as 1 birth event) per transfer cycle where an embryo is transferred
**** Number of births (counted as single birth events i.e. twins count as 1 birth event) from all fresh and frozen embryos following a single donor stimulation cycle.
Information on success rates is of limited value in comparing centres and choosing where to seek treatment.: Choose a fertility clinic | Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority