The majority of infertility cases are managed using common fertility options and treatments like drug therapies and surgery. No one can predict the outcome of a fertility treatment, but it is important to maintain a positive attitude. Carefully considering and preparing for your treatment is critical.

Despite your best efforts, sometimes fertility drug therapies and surgeries do not resolve a couple’s fertility issues. If this is what you and your partner are facing, your next step may be looking to other fertility options or treatments, known as assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Facing another round of unfamiliar procedures may seem overwhelming to some. Learning about the procedures and various options available may help to alleviate some of your anxieties. While there are no guarantees with fertility treatments, the success rates are encouraging.

Under the leadership of the IVF Medical Directors of Canada, all IVF clinics in Canada voluntarily submit their IVF outcome data to the Canadian Assisted Reproductive Technologies Register (CARTR). Live birth rates were reported for a combined total of 14,861 IVF/ICSI treatment cycles undertaken in 34 of 36 IVF centres in Canada in 2013.

• The overall live birth rate was 23% per cycle started, 25% per egg retrieval procedure, and 30% per embryo transfer procedure.
  • 86% of births were singletons
  • 14% were multiples
• The live birth rates per cycle started, by age of the mother, were:
  • 41% for women under 35 years old
  • 30% for women aged 35-39 years
  • 14% for women 40 years old and over

The information here explains the various fertility drug therapies and surgical procedures in a language you and your partner can understand. It will also give you a solid grasp of more involved fertility treatments such as IVF, egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, and embryo transplants.