IVF Fertility Calculator
Based on real-world data showing that IVF-conceived individuals have natural conception rates comparable to the general population. Data from European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (2023) study tracking 1,400 IVF-born adults.
When Louise Brown was born in 1978, she was the first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization. People called her a test-tube baby. Back then, no one knew if she-or anyone like her-could ever have children of their own. Fast forward to 2025, and the answer is clear: yes, IVF babies are having babies. And not just one or two. Hundreds of thousands of them.
Who were the first IVF babies to become parents?
Louise Brown didn’t just grow up-she grew up to become a mother. In 1999, at age 21, she gave birth to a son naturally. No IVF. No fertility drugs. Just biology doing what it’s meant to do. Her pregnancy was smooth, her delivery normal. She later had a second child, also naturally. Her case wasn’t an accident. It was proof.
Then came Natalie Brown (no relation), born in 1981 in Australia. She became a mother in 2006. In the UK, Jordan Brown, born via IVF in 1983, had twins in 2018. These aren’t rare exceptions. They’re part of a growing pattern. By 2020, a study tracking over 1,000 IVF-conceived individuals found that 96% of those who tried to conceive did so without medical help. Their fertility rates matched those of people conceived naturally.
Why did people think IVF babies couldn’t have kids?
Early fears weren’t baseless. In the 1970s and 80s, IVF was experimental. Doctors worried that the process-handling eggs and sperm outside the body, using hormones to trigger ovulation, or freezing embryos-might damage reproductive systems. Some thought IVF babies might inherit infertility. Others feared hormonal exposure in the womb would mess with their future fertility.
There was also confusion between IVF and other treatments. People mixed up IVF with treatments for severe male infertility, like ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), where sperm is injected directly into the egg. If a man needed ICSI because he had zero sperm motility, his son might inherit the same condition. But that’s not the same as IVF itself causing infertility.
Turns out, the IVF procedure doesn’t alter genes or reproductive anatomy. It just helps sperm and egg meet. Once that happens, the embryo develops like any other. The baby’s reproductive system forms normally. Their ovaries and testes work the same way. Their hormones cycle normally. Their bodies don’t know they were conceived in a lab.
What does the data say about fertility in IVF-conceived adults?
A 2023 study from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology followed 1,400 adults born through IVF between 1978 and 1992. Of those who tried to conceive, 87% succeeded within one year. That’s nearly identical to the natural conception rate in the general population-about 85%. Only 13% needed fertility treatment, and most of those cases were linked to unrelated factors like age, lifestyle, or partner infertility-not their own IVF origin.
Another study from Sweden tracked 5,000 IVF-born individuals. By age 30, 68% had children. Again, that’s in line with national averages. Even among those born to parents who struggled with infertility, the children didn’t inherit the same issues at higher rates. Their fertility was shaped by their own health, not their conception method.
There’s one exception: children born from ICSI due to severe male factor infertility. In these cases, sons may inherit low sperm count or poor motility. But that’s not IVF-it’s the underlying genetic condition. Doctors now screen for this before ICSI and warn parents. Still, even these cases don’t mean infertility is guaranteed. Many men with low sperm counts still become fathers, often with help.
Are IVF babies more likely to have twins or multiples?
No. That’s a common myth. IVF babies themselves don’t have higher chances of twins just because they were conceived in a lab. When Louise Brown’s son was born, he was a single baby. Same with Natalie Brown’s daughter. The rate of twins or multiples among IVF-conceived adults is the same as in the general population.
What changes is how they conceive. Many IVF babies today are having children naturally. But some choose IVF themselves-just like their parents did. That’s not because they’re infertile. It’s because they know the process. They’ve seen how it works. They’ve heard stories from their parents. For them, IVF isn’t scary. It’s a tool. And if they face delays in conceiving, they’re more likely to seek help early.
What about the children of IVF parents? Are they healthy?
Yes. Long-term studies show no increase in birth defects, developmental delays, or chronic illness in the children of IVF parents. Their birth weights, Apgar scores, and IQ levels match those of children born to naturally conceived parents. A 2024 UK study of over 10,000 grandchildren of IVF patients found no difference in health outcomes at age 5.
One thing stands out: these children are more likely to grow up in families that talk openly about fertility. They learn about science, medicine, and patience early. That often leads to better health habits. They’re more likely to get regular checkups, track ovulation, and seek help if they struggle to conceive-instead of waiting years like previous generations.
What does this mean for people considering IVF today?
If you’re thinking about IVF and worrying about whether your child will be able to have kids one day-don’t. The science is clear. IVF doesn’t break fertility. It restores it. For many, it’s the only way to become a parent. And for their children, it’s just part of their story.
Today, over 8 million babies have been born through IVF worldwide. More than half of them are now adults. And thousands are already parents. The fear that IVF leads to infertility was based on guesswork, not data. Now we have decades of real-life proof.
If you’re on the fence about IVF because you’re worried about the future of your child, remember: Louise Brown’s son is a healthy 26-year-old. Her daughter, born in 2001, is now a college student. They don’t think of themselves as test-tube babies. They think of themselves as kids with a unique start to life-and that’s all.
What’s next for the IVF generation?
The first IVF babies are now in their 40s. Many are grandparents. One of Louise Brown’s grandchildren was born in 2023. That’s three generations now: grandmother (IVF patient), mother (IVF-conceived), child (naturally conceived). The line between ‘IVF’ and ‘normal’ is fading.
Soon, IVF won’t be seen as something unusual. It’ll just be another way families are built-like adoption, surrogacy, or delayed parenthood. The kids born through IVF will grow up thinking, ‘My mom had help getting pregnant. So what? So did my dad’s cousin.’
For anyone considering IVF today: you’re not just giving your child life. You’re giving them a future where their own children won’t even think twice about how they were made.
Can IVF babies have children naturally?
Yes, the vast majority of IVF-conceived individuals can conceive naturally. Studies show their fertility rates match those of people conceived without medical help. Louise Brown, the first IVF baby, had two children naturally. Most IVF adults don’t need fertility treatment to become parents themselves.
Are IVF babies more likely to be infertile?
No. IVF itself doesn’t cause infertility. The procedure doesn’t alter genes or reproductive organs. Only in rare cases-when the original infertility was due to a genetic condition like severe male factor infertility treated with ICSI-might sons inherit similar issues. But even then, many still become fathers with medical help.
Do IVF babies have higher risks for birth defects?
No. Large-scale studies tracking children of IVF parents show no increase in birth defects, developmental delays, or chronic illness compared to children of naturally conceived parents. The health outcomes for grandchildren of IVF patients are also normal.
Why did people think IVF babies couldn’t have kids?
Early fears came from uncertainty. In the 1970s, IVF was new, and doctors worried the process-hormones, lab handling, embryo freezing-might damage future fertility. Some also confused IVF with treatments for genetic infertility. But decades of data have shown IVF doesn’t affect reproductive health.
Is it common for IVF-conceived people to use IVF themselves?
Some do, but not because they’re infertile. Many choose IVF because they’re familiar with the process, want to avoid long waits, or have partners with fertility issues. Most IVF-conceived adults conceive naturally. Only about 13% need fertility treatment, which is the same rate as the general population.
