Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3937941 | Fertility and Sterility | 2011 | 7 Pages |
ObjectiveTo measure IVF effectiveness, which is defined as the cumulative incidence of live delivery over real time in women after commencing IVF treatment.DesignPopulation-based retrospective cohort study.SettingIVF clinics in Western Australia (WA).Patient(s)All women ages 20–44 years inclusive at start of treatment, commencing IVF in 1982–1992 and 1993–2002 at clinics in WA (n = 8,275).Intervention(s)Data on IVF cycles were extracted from hospital records and a statutory reproductive technology register and linked to records of births.Main Outcome Measure(s)Cumulative incidence of an IVF-attributed live delivery and cumulative incidence of an IVF-attributed or IVF treatment-independent live delivery.Result(s)IVF effectiveness in the 1993–2002 cohort was 47% overall. It was highest in women ages 20–29 years at the start of treatment, measuring 58%; and 79% with the inclusion of IVF treatment-independent deliveries, and declined to 22% and 33%, respectively, in women ages 40–44 years. Couples underwent, on average, only three cycles, even though the cumulative probability of a live delivery increased with each successive cycle for at least the first five cycles.Conclusion(s)IVF effectiveness could be improved if women, particularly those over 35, underwent more cycles.