Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Canada: 2007 results from the Canadian ART Register

To present a report on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) cycles performed in 2007 in Canada and show trends in outcomes over time. This is the seventh annual report from the Canadian ART Register (CARTR).

Prospective cohort study.

Twenty-six of 26 ART centers in Canada.

Couples undergoing ART treatment in Canada during 2007.

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 13,482 ART cycles was reported to CARTR. In 8,972 IVF/ICSI cycles using the woman's own oocytes, per cycle started, the clinical pregnancy rate was 35.6% (41.0% per ET), and the live-birth rate was 28.6%; the multiple-birth rate per delivery was 30.2%, with a high-order multiple-birth rate of 1.1%. In 68% of cycles ICSI was performed. One or two embryos were transferred in 69% of cycles. In 404 IVF/ICSI cycles using donor oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 44.6%, and the live-birth rate was 36.1%; the multiple-birth rate was 26.5%, with no triplet birth. In 3,224 FET cycles using the woman's own oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 23.7%, and the live-birth rate was 17.8%; the multiple-birth rate was 24.1%, with a triplet birth rate of 0.2%. Birth outcomes were unknown for 2.0% of ongoing pregnancies.

For 2007, CARTR achieved 100% voluntary participation from Canadian ART centers for the fifth consecutive year. Clinical pregnancy and live-birth rates continued to increase in 2007 compared with previous years, with a decrease in high-order multiple births.