Couples offered free assisted reproduction treatment have a very high chance of achieving a live birth within 4 years

ObjectiveTo assess the long-term success rate among couples with primary infertility offered unrestricted, free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.DesignHistorical prospective cohort study.SettingUniversity-based tertiary medical center with unlimited coverage of IVF for couples' first two children.Patient(s)Women aged <35 years, with primary infertility, referred for their first IVF treatment to the Sheba Medical Center IVF unit between 2001 and 2002.Intervention(s)Relevant data were obtained from patient files and supplemented by a standardized telephone questionnaire.Main Outcome Measure(s)Pregnancies, live births, adoptions, divorces, and discontinuations of further treatment.Result(s)During the 5- to 7-year follow-up period, 95.5% of couples conceived, and 89.6% of couples gave birth to a live infant. Of these couples, 81.3% achieved a live birth within the first 4 years of the follow-up period, and 85.1% within eight treatment cycles. Of the 14 couples (10.4%) who did not give birth to a live infant, five adopted, two divorced, four are still undergoing IVF treatments, and three (1.8%) decided not to become parents.Conclusion(s)Young couples beginning IVF treatment in an environment free of economic hurdles can be reassured that they have an excellent chance (∼90%) of achieving a live birth within 4 years. When IVF is provided free of cost, very few couples discontinue treatment before a live birth is achieved.