Calculating cumulative live-birth rates from linked cycles of assisted reproductive technology (ART): data from the Massachusetts SART CORS

ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility of linking assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles for individual women to compare per-cycle and cumulative live-birth rates.DesignHistorical cohort study.SettingClinic-based data.Patient(s)A total of 27,906 ART cycles with residency or treatment in Massachusetts during 2004–2006 and reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcomes Reporting System (SART CORS) on-line database.Intervention(s)None.Main Outcome Measure(s)Per-cycle and cumulative live-birth rates.Result(s)Linkage of cycles up to and including the first live-birth delivery revealed 14,265 women who averaged 1.9 ± 1.2 SD cycles (range 1–11). These cycles yielded 9,452 pregnancies resulting in 7,675 live-birth deliveries. From cycle 1 to cycle 4, the cumulative live-birth rate for all patients increased from 30.4% to 43.3%, 49.1%, and 51.9%, respectively, and plateaued thereafter at about 53%. The cumulative live-birth rate after three cycles using donor oocytes was ∼60% for women aged <43 years and >50% for women ≥43 years; for autologous oocytes it was 60.1% for ages <35 years and declined steadily to 8.5% for ages ≥43 years.Conclusion(s)The results demonstrate the feasibility of linking ART cycles for individual women from SART CORS to characterize cumulative live-birth rates.