Women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques can now get an estimate of how successful the procedure may be thanks to a new IVF calculator, according to Dr. David McLernon of the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom.

In the past, doctors have wanted to see the results of at least one cycle of IVF before trying to predict the chance a couple has for success.  Evaluations of the quality of the eggs and the sperm and other medical conditions help the physicians make the estimate.

After this new study, reported by foxnews.com, in which the data from 113,873 women who underwent 184,269 cycles of IVF, McLernon thinks they can give the prospective parents a better estimate of their chances of conception.

The study found that overall, 29 percent of the women in the study group had a baby after one IVF cycle, and that number increased to 43 percent after the completion of six cycles.

Other factors played a role in the success rate, according to the researchers, with women who were over the age of 31 before the first IVF cycle being 66 percent more likely to be successful than their counterparts who were over the age of 37 on the first attempt.

Additionally, couples who had been infertile for three years were 9 percent more likely to conceive than those who had experienced six years of infertility.  A greater number of eggs produced in the cycle also increased the chances, up to around 13 eggs.  After that point, say the researchers, the larger number of eggs may mean lower quality eggs being produced and lessening the odds of conception.

Some experts though say the calculator can give false hope, or even a lack of hope, to couples already facing an emotional roller coaster, and caution there may be other factors involved that the study man not have addressed.

Still, this new calculator could be useful to couples making the decision to try IVF.  McLernon told Fox News in an e-mail, “I don’t think women would want to undergo their first cycle of IVF just to determine their chances in future cycles – I think their aim would be to have a baby in that first attempt.”