Do you know that the largest group of fertility clinics in the United States doesn't want you to compare their IVF success rates? This organization, SART, actually restricts member clinics from comparing their own success rates to other clinics or even to the National Average.
There should be a variety of factors that go into making an educated decision concerning fertility treatment. Why would this powerful group want to keep such an important piece of data out of that equation?
Who is SART?
SART has updated their IVF Success Rate data to include new clinics. Accordingly, we have update our Top IVF Clinic Report to include this new data.
The following clinic were added:
Austin Fertility Institute, PA
Utah Fertility Center
Fertility Solutions, P.C. / Massachutsetts Fertility Center, L.L.C.
Gago IVF
Reproductive Gynecology, Inc.
Both Austin Fertility Institute and Utah Fertility Center now appear in the Top IVF Clinics in the United States for Women Under 35. As a result, two clinics that were previously listed in that report are now not. No other age groups were affected for the United States report.
SART has released the 2011 IVF Success Rates data and we have updated our list of Top IVF Clinics.
However, we noticed that the reports for several clinics were not yet updated for 2011.
https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?ClinicPKID=2268
https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?ClinicPKID=2454
https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?ClinicPKID=2143
https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?ClinicPKID=2455
https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?ClinicPKID=2210
We have excluded these clinics from our report of Top IVF Clinics in America until their data has been updated with SART.
Yesterday it was brought to our attention that SART updated their 2010 IVF Success Rates Report. It is not uncommon for them to do this periodically as corrections are made to the initial reporting. SART does not have a system in place to notify the public when such changes are made, so we are unsure when this new data was introduced.
In order to maintain the integrity of our index, we moved swiftly to identify the changes and incorporate them into our site.
Great blog post by a former NYC resident who writes of her experience with two different fertility clinics in New York City.
The post describes how they originally chose one clinic, primarily based on success rate data only to have a frustrating, disappointing and costly experience with an uncaring, poorly run clinic.
After some time off, they started researching alternative clinics and found their Dr. Jekyll (he's the good one :~).
Dr. Geoffrey Sher just published an insightful blog post outlining some of the deficiencies in the current SART/CDC IVF success rate model. Specifically he mentions:
I just finished an excellent patient blog post entitled, How To Get SART Smart.
It is written by a, "28 year old married couple facing early Ovarian Failure and discussing our options of IVF or the possibility of Donor Eggs."
If medical professionals have any doubts about the patient's ability to understand success rate data and use this information as part of a larger treatment decision process, you should definitely give this a read. It is informative and covers many of the data manipulation techniques used by some clinics to boost their success rates.
IVF Statistic Manipulation and How to Discover it
Critics of using IVF success statistics like Live Birth Rate Per Transfer as a method of evaluating the quality of a fertility clinic say that statistics can be manipulated. There is no doubt that this is being done. But is the answer really to prohibit comparison? Isn't it more desirable to expose these manipulations and educate prospective patients on how they can be detected? Many medical professionals would say that most patients are not capable of making this kind of detailed analysis. Really, they say that.
After three years of running this site, we have fielded dozens of questions about IVF Success Rates. Here are some of the most popular ones. Have a question that isn't here? You can ask it in the comments section and we will do our best to get it answered.
Why are the most recent published success rates on SART two years old and on CDC three years old?
A few things you and your physician can do to improve IVF success.
There are a few factors you can influence in increasing your chances with IVF. Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep and reduce stress in your life among other things.
However, the most important factor to increase your IVF success is your decision in choosing a fertility clinic. Once you choose a fertility clinic, the outcome of your IVF treatment is mostly in the hands of the fertility doctor and his staff. They choose the IVF protocol, the medication with dosages and all the little details concerning timing, which you will follow exactly. That's why it is so important to look at IVF success rates! It can give you an indication of a fertility clinic's skill and expertise. So, be good to your body and wise in your decision of your IVF doctor!
