Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Canada: 2006 results from the Canadian ART Register

To present a report on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) cycles performed in 2006 in Canada and show trends in outcomes over time. This is the sixth annual report from the Canadian ART Register (CARTR).

Prospective cohort study.

Twenty-five of 25 ART centers in Canada.

Couples undergoing ART treatment in Canada during 2006.

ART treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Clinical pregnancy, live birth, and multiple birth rates.

A total of 12,052 ART cycles was reported to CARTR. In 8278 IVF/ICSI cycles using the woman's own oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle started was 33.7% (38.6% per ET), and the live birth rate was 27.1%; the multiple birth rate per delivery was 30.3%, with a high-order multiple birth rate of 1.5%. In 64% of cycles, ICSI was performed. One or two embryos were transferred in 67% of cycles. In 350 IVF/ICSI cycles using donor oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 42.3%, and the live birth rate was 33.6%; the multiple birth rate was 37.3%, with no triplet birth. In 2838 FET cycles using the woman's own oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 24.3%, and the live birth rate was 18.6%; the multiple birth rate was 22.5%, with a triplet birth rate of 0.6%. Birth outcomes were unknown for 3.6% of ongoing pregnancies.

For 2006, CARTR achieved 100% voluntary participation from Canadian ART centers for the fourth consecutive year. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates continued to increase in 2006 compared with previous years, but multiple birth rates decreased only slightly.