Assisted reproductive technologies in Canada: 2005 results from the Canadian Assisted Reproductive Technologies Register

ObjectiveTo present a report on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) cycles performed in 2005 in Canada. This is the fifth annual report from the Canadian ART Register (CARTR).DesignProspective cohort study.SettingTwenty-five of 25 ART centers in Canada.Participant(s)Couples undergoing ART treatment in Canada during 2005.Intervention(s)ART treatments, including IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and frozen ET (FET).Main Outcome Measure(s)Clinical pregnancy, live birth, and multiple birth rates.Result(s)A total of 11,414 ART cycles was reported to CARTR. In 8195 IVF/ICSI cycles using the women's own oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle started was 32.1% (37.5% per ET procedure), and the live birth rate was 25.6%; the multiple birth rate per delivery was 30.8%, with a triplet birth rate of 1.4%. IVF was performed in 40% of cycles and ICSI in 60% with similar pregnancy rates. One or two embryos were transferred in 68% of cycles; transferring more embryos did not increase the pregnancy rate. In 301 IVF/ICSI cycles using donor oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 46.5%, and the live birth rate was 35.2%; the multiple birth rate was 33.3%, with no triplet birth. In 2498 FET cycles using the woman's own oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 22.8%, and the live birth rate was 17.4%; the multiple birth rate was 24.5%, with a triplet birth rate of 1.6%. Compared with singletons, babies from multiple births had higher risks for preterm birth, low birth weight, and perinatal death.Conclusion(s)For 2005, CARTR achieved 100% voluntary participation from Canadian ART centers for the third consecutive year. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates continued to increase in 2005 compared with previous years.