Introduction - The objective is to assess the likelihood that a couple beginning in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at an assisted reproductive technology (ART) center will ultimately achieve their goal of becoming parents through treatment, following a natural conception, or through the adoption of a child. Methods - A retrospective cohort study was conducted at eight ART centers in France involving 6,507 couples who underwent their first IVF cycle at the center between 2000 and 2002. The couples’ treatment journeys were reconstructed using the ART centers’ databases and a mail survey conducted in 2008–2010 among the couples, which yielded 2,321 completed questionnaires. Results and Conclusion - IVF treatment at the participating ART center enabled 41% of the couples to have a child. Among the couples who did not have a child during treatment at the participating center, 49% achieved their goal of parenthood in the years that followed (39% according to a conservative estimate). Ultimately, 70% of couples (64% according to the conservative estimate) achieved their goal of having a child during or after IVF treatment: 48% through medical treatments (IVF or other), 11% through natural conception, and 11% by adopting a child. (R.A.)