Introduction to the 2015 National Report

Data provided by United States clinics that use assisted reproductive technology (ART) to treat infertility are a rich source of information about the factors that contribute to a successful ART treatment—the delivery of a healthy live- born infant. Pooling the data from all reporting clinics provides a national picture that could not be obtained by examining data from an individual clinic.

A woman’s chances of having a pregnancy and a live birth when using ART are influenced by many factors, some of which are patient-related and outside a clinic’s control (for example, the woman’s age or the cause of infertility). Because the national data include information on many of these factors, this can give potential ART patients an idea of the average chances of success. Average chances, however, do not necessarily apply to a particular individual or couple. People considering ART should consult their physician to discuss all the factors that apply in their particular case.

The data for this national report come from the 464 fertility clinics in operation in 2015 that provided and verified data on the outcomes of all ART cycles started in their clinics. Of the 231,936 ART cycles performed in 2015 at these reporting clinics, 186,157 cycles (80%) were started with the intent to transfer at least one embryo. These 186,157 cycles resulted in 60,778 live births (deliveries of one or more living infants) and 72,913 infants.

Of the 186,157 ART cycles started in 2015 with the intent to transfer at least one embryo, 4,003 cycles were reported with the intent to thaw a previously frozen egg, fertilize the egg, and then transfer the resulting embryo. However, because this cycle type (a frozen egg cycle) does not contribute to the calculation of any success rates for the 464 clinics included in the 2015 Assisted Reproductive Technology Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report (hereafter called the 2015 Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report), the 4,003 frozen egg cycles are not included in the majority of this national report. The majority of the report includes the remaining 182,154 cycles.

Of the 231,936 ART cycles performed in 2015, 45,779 cycles (20%) were started with the intent of cryopreserving (freezing) and storing all resulting eggs or embryos for potential future use. However, because this cycle type (a banking cycle) cannot result in immediate pregnancy, the 45,779 banking cycles started in 2015 are not included in the majority of this national report.

The 231,936 total ART cycles performed in 2015 excludes 1 cycle started in which a new treatment procedure was being evaluated. The 1 new procedure cycle is not included in the majority of this national report because it does not contribute to the calculation of any success rates for the 464 clinics included in the 2015 Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report.

The 2015 National Summary table on page 5 combines data from all 231,936 cycles reported by the 464 clinics. For an explanation of how to read this table, see pages 11–20 of the 2015 Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report available at https://www.cdc.gov/art/artdata/index.html.

This national report consists of graphs and charts that use 2015 data to answer specific questions related to ART success rates. These figures are organized according to the type of ART procedure used. Some ART procedures use a woman’s own eggs (nondonor cycles), and others use donated eggs or embryos (donor cycles). Although sperm used to create an embryo also may be either from a woman’s partner or from a sperm donor, ART cycles in this report are classified according to the source of the egg.

In some procedures, the embryos that develop after fertilization are transferred back to the woman without having been frozen (fresh embryo transfer); in others, embryos that previously have been frozen (cryopreserved) for transfer at a later date are thawed and transferred to the woman (frozen embryo transfer).

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/art/reports/2015/national-summary.html