Every year in the United States, thousands and thousands of men and women pursue fertility treatment as a means to grow their family. In fact, in 2011 – the most recent data available – there were over 150,000 IVF and donor egg treatment cycles performed throughout the country!
Increased Fertility Awareness
From celebrities speaking out and prime-time shows featuring characters coping with infertility, the conversation about infertility has broken into the foreground – taking away the taboo which used to be associated with IVF and “test-tube babies”. As infertility awareness increases, more people are accessing the care they need. Since 2004, the number of reported IVF and donor egg cycles has increased by 29% – for a total of over 1,000,000 IVF and donor egg cycles performed in the United States.
Who is an Infertility Patient?
Men and women, straight and gay, single or married, there is no one identity for someone who needs fertility treatment. One in eight women and their partners will experience infertility – odds are you or someone you are close to will need assistance when it comes to conception.
At Shady Grove Fertility – which is very similar to the national data – the average age of an IVF patient is 35. Some have been trying to conceive for several years, while others may have been previously diagnosed with endometriosis or another condition which they knew would make it challenging to conceive on their own.
In addition to over 5,000 IVF cycles, Shady Grove Fertility performs over 1,000 donor egg cycles annually. The age of donor recipients is not tracked through SART since the age does not impact the success rates when using a donated egg.
If you aren’t sure if you should see a fertility specialist use this simple guideline:
- Under 35 years of age and you have been trying on your own for a year or longer
- 35-40 years of age and been trying to 6 months on your own
- 40 years of age or older, it is recommended to see a fertility specialist immediately
Or try the Fertility 5 assessment from RESOLVE.
What is SART?
SART, the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, collects data from more than 85% of fertility centers in the United States. The goal is to set and help maintain the standards for reproductive medicine in an effort to better serve our members and our patients.
It is important to note that low-tech fertility treatment, such as, cycles using Clomid or intrauterine insemination (IUI), is not tracked by SART. At Shady Grove Fertility, low-tech treatment accounts for approximately half of fertility treatment performed on an annual basis.
If you are interested in building a family through fertility treatment, please schedule an appointment, or speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.
