How long should women persevere with IVF?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine
• Public health policy
• Medical ethics

Background:

• Israel's public health insurance offers unlimited in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.
• This policy is globally recognized but may lead to prolonged treatment.
• The "culture of perseverance" in IVF clinics requires further assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implications of unlimited IVF cycles in Israel.
• To assess the long-term health and welfare of women undergoing prolonged IVF.
• To inform evidence-based policies for assisted reproductive technology (ART) globally.

Main Methods:

• This paper presents a critical review and ethical analysis.
• It calls for systematic, long-term health and welfare assessments.
• It examines the "culture of perseverance" in IVF settings.

Main Results:

• Unlimited IVF cycles may encourage treatment continuation despite low success probabilities.
• The "culture of perseverance" associated with prolonged IVF needs deeper investigation.
• Current policies may not fully consider long-term patient well-being.

Conclusions:

• A systematic assessment of long-term outcomes for women in prolonged IVF is essential.
• Evidence-based ART policies can optimize resource allocation and duty of care.
• Findings have implications for IVF policies in Israel and internationally.