IVF Trends in the United States: What CDC Data Shows

How IVF has changed over the past decade, more cycles, better success rates, and a shift toward frozen embryo transfers and single embryo transfers that has fundamentally altered outcomes.

The Growth of IVF

The number of IVF cycles performed annually in the United States has grown steadily, from approximately 165,000 in 2012 to over 400,000 by 2022. This growth reflects increased awareness, improved insurance coverage in some states, and expanding indications (including fertility preservation for cancer patients and elective egg freezing).

Despite this growth, access remains highly unequal. States with insurance mandates for fertility treatment have significantly higher per-capita IVF utilization than states without mandates. Geographic concentration is also pronounced, major metros in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast account for a disproportionate share of clinics and cycles.

The Frozen Embryo Transfer Revolution

The most significant trend in IVF over the past decade has been the shift from fresh to frozen embryo transfers. In 2012, fresh transfers were the norm. By 2022, frozen transfers account for the majority of all transfers at most clinics. This shift was driven by two factors: improvements in cryopreservation technology (vitrification, which dramatically improved embryo survival after thawing) and the adoption of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), which requires freezing embryos while awaiting test results.

Frozen transfer cycles now show success rates comparable to, and in some age groups, better than, fresh transfer cycles. This was not the case a decade ago, when frozen embryo outcomes lagged behind fresh. The implication for patients is that clinics offering high-quality frozen embryo programs are no longer at a disadvantage.

Single Embryo Transfer: Reducing Multiple Births

The fertility industry has shifted decisively toward single embryo transfer (SET) rather than transferring two or more embryos. Multiple embryo transfers increase pregnancy rates per cycle but dramatically increase the risk of twins and higher-order multiples, which carry significant risks for both mother and babies.

SET rates have risen from approximately 30% in 2012 to over 75% by 2022. The CDC tracks this metric for every clinic. On PlainFertility, you can see each clinic's SET rate alongside success rates, providing context for how those success rates were achieved. A clinic with a high SET rate and good success rates is achieving those outcomes safely. Browse our clinic directory to compare.

Age Remains the Dominant Factor

Despite all technological advances, maternal age remains the single strongest predictor of IVF success. Success rates decline sharply after age 35 and more steeply after 40. The use of donor eggs (from younger women) effectively removes age as a factor, which is why donor egg cycles show much higher success rates for older patients.

Understanding this age gradient is essential for interpreting clinic-level data. A clinic treating primarily patients under 35 will have higher reported success rates than a clinic treating many patients over 40, regardless of clinical quality. The CDC risk-adjusts some metrics but not all, making direct comparisons between clinics with different patient populations misleading. See our age and IVF success guide for detailed analysis.

What This Means for Patients

These trends have practical implications for anyone considering IVF:

Frozen embryo programs are now mainstream. A clinic's frozen transfer success rate is as important as its fresh transfer rate.
Check the SET rate. High success rates achieved through transferring multiple embryos come with higher risk.
Age-specific rates matter most. National averages are misleading, look at your age group specifically.
Geographic access is still unequal. If you live in a state without fertility insurance mandates, costs will be higher and options may be more limited.