Pregnancy and birth after in vitro fertilisation

How successful are IVF treatments? The charts on this page show the success rates for IVF and the numbers of premature or multiple births occurring after IVF.

Not all IVF treatments result in a birth. Frequently, to increase the chances of success, several embryos are transferred to the uterus. However, this also increases the likelihood of a multiple pregnancy, which involves greater risks (for mother and child) than a singleton pregnancy. For example, multiple pregnancies are more often associated with caesarean sections and premature births.

In recent years, the practice of elective single embryo transfer (eSET) has become increasingly common internationally. Thanks to modern methods, embryos produced in vitro can be observed and analysed in more detail. This makes it possible to select a single embryo, which may increase pregnancy success rates.

How to read the chart: Embryo transfer was achieved in 86 per cent of all treatment cycles started in 2007, for example; a clinical pregnancy was established in 23 per cent; and a birth (including stillbirths) resulted from 16 per cent of all treatment cycles.

In the first weeks, pregnancy can only be detected using a biochemical test (i.e. a pregnancy test). It can only be determined by ultrasound after 5 to 6 weeks. From this point onwards, it is known as a clinical pregnancy.

Top of page

For comparison, in 2021, the proportion of multiple births was 1.51 per cent overall, while the proportion after IVF was 4.04 per cent. (Source: FSO, BEVNAT)

Top of page