In 2013, Genesis Fertility Centre became the first and only clinic in Canada to independently verify our pregnancy success rates.

Why did we have our clinical results independently verified?

We did this to improve transparency about our clinic’s pregnancy rates and make it easier for patients to understand our success rates.

In the U.S., pregnancy rates reporting by fertility clinics is mandatory, audited and identifiable. In Canada however, success rates reporting is voluntary, de-identified and unaudited. Websites may contain only biochemical pregnancy rates and use different denominators, making it virtually impossible for patients to compare the success rates of different fertility clinics.

At Genesis, we ensure validity of our pregnancy rates annually through third-party auditing conducted by two independent, unrelated industry organizations: Fertility Authority, a leading authority in patient advocacy, and IVF Reports, an authority in IVF standards.

Safety First: Single Embryo Transfer

At Genesis Fertility Centre, we believe that singleton pregnancies are healthiest for mothers and babies as multiple implantations increase the risk of pre-term delivery and obstetrical complications.

Between January 2011 and December 2012, Genesis’s elective and mandatory single embryo transfer rate was 18 per cent.

In 2013, elective day-five single embryo (eSET) use increased to 76 per cent for eligible women under age 37.

What do these numbers mean?

Pregnancy rates may be reported in several ways due to various definitions of pregnancy.

*Biochemical pregnancy rates are defined as positive blood tests done 17 days after the embryo transfer.
** Clinical pregnancy rates are defined as pregnancies confirmed by transvaginal ultrasounds with at least a pregnancy sac present and most often a fetal heartbeat.

The denominator against which positive pregnancies are measured also vary:

1. The start of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, i.e. the start of fertility medication
2. Egg retrieval
3. Embryo transfer

We report according to fresh embryo transfer.

Why do we report according to fresh embryo transfer?

Many patients now choose to freeze their embryos for later use rather than proceed with embryo transfer immediately. Also, some patients with poorer prognoses or more challenging histories (e.g. AMH levels of <0.5; multiple previous failed cycles at the same or different fertility clinics) may have poorer progression to transfer, i.e. no embryo to transfer. In the past, these patients may have been denied a chance to try. We take pride in accepting these “challenging cases” provided the patients understand the prognoses.

We are honoured to help them build their families.

Not all egg retrievals result in embryo transfer:

1. Patients with cancer or other medical issues use egg retrieval as a way to preserve their fertility
2. Some patients choose to freeze their eggs or embryos for later use due to:
   i.  Genetic screening (day-five embryo biopsy and freezing while awaiting results of testing)
   ii. Risk of ovarian hyperstimulation
   iii. Uterine factor infertility
   iv. Other reasons, .e.g personal or health reasons
3. No eggs retrieved (this occurs at a frequency of less than one per cent in a normal patient)
4. Failed fertilization (occurs in less than five per cent of cases)
5. Failed embryo development (occurs in less than one per cent of cases)

We intend to post our pregnancy rates according to age, AMH levels and previous attempts on our website to allow patients to interpret their individual circumstances.

Stay tuned!