Three in four IVF babies in Australia now born from frozen embryos
Australians undergoing IVF now have a better chance of taking home a baby than they did just five years ago, as new data from Australia and New Zealand show treatment has evolved to become not only increasingly effective but also safer for mothers and babies.
In 2024, nearly 114,000 IVF treatment cycles took place in Australia and New Zealand, resulting in the birth of over 20,900 babies. According to the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database (ANZARD) report, about one in five initiated cycles led to a live birth.
Frozen embryos played a significant role in these successful outcomes. On average, 70% of embryo transfers involved frozen embryos, up from 44.5% five years earlier. Live birth rates for frozen embryos increased from 31.2% to 33.3% per transfer between 2021 and 2024, compared to a smaller increase of 25.4% to 26.2% for fresh embryos.
Single embryo transfer became increasingly common, reaching 95.4% in 2024 from 93% in 2020. This practice helped maintain a low multiple-birth rate of 2.2%, contributing to the safety and success of IVF treatments. In 2024, 82.5% of the 20,918 babies born from IVF were full-term singletons with a healthy birth weight.
The data highlights the growing trend of IVF treatments, with nearly half (44.5%) of fresh cycles resulting in all eggs or embryos being frozen for future use. This approach allows clinics to plan embryo transfers during optimal conditions and consider long-term family size goals. Single women, same-sex female intended parents, and gestational carrier cycles also contributed to the diverse range of families choosing IVF in Australia and New Zealand.
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