Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Canada: 2004 results from the Canadian ART Register

ObjectiveTo present the results of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles performed in 2004 in Canada. This is the fourth annual report of Canadian ART outcomes.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingTwenty-six of 26 ART centers in Canada.Patient(s)Couples undergoing ART treatment in Canada during 2004.Intervention(s)Assisted reproductive technology treatments, including IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), frozen embryo transfer, and oocyte donation.Main Outcome Measure(s)Clinical pregnancy, live birth, and multiple birth rates.Result(s)A total of 11,068 ART cycles was reported to the Canadian ART Register. There were 7,874 IVF/ICSI cycles that used the woman's own oocytes. Per cycle started, the clinical pregnancy rate was 31.7% (37.8% per embryo transfer procedure), and the live birth rate was 24.2%; the multiple birth rate per delivery was 27.8%, with a triplet birth rate of 1.5%. In vitro fertilization was performed in 42% of cycles, and ICSI, in 58%, with similar pregnancy rates. There were 365 IVF/ICSI cycles that used donor oocytes. The clinical pregnancy rate was 44.9%, and the live birth rate was 33.7%; the multiple birth rate was 32.5%, with a triplet birth rate of 4.3%. There were 2,431 frozen embryo transfer cycles that used the woman's own oocytes. The clinical pregnancy rate was 22.8% and the live birth rate was 16.5%; the multiple birth rate was 26.0%, with a triplet birth rate of 1.0%. There were 398 cycles of various other ART types, including 87 cycles involving gestational carriers.Conclusion(s)For 2004, the Canadian ART Register achieved 100% voluntary participation from Canadian ART centers for the second consecutive year. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were higher and multiple birth rates were lower in 2004 than in previous years.