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

Yechezkel Lande*, Daniel S. Seidman, Ettie Maman, Micha Baum, Jehoshua Dor, Ariel Hourvitz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the long-term success rate among couples with primary infertility offered unrestricted, free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Design: Historical prospective cohort study. Setting: University-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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)568-572
Number of pages5
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume95
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011

Keywords

  • Cost-free cycles
  • IVF
  • live birth rate
  • long-term follow-up

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