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In-vitro fertilization: how many attempts before success?
A Bouckaert1, S Baeten, S de Cooman
1Unit of Medical Mathematics, Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Repeated in-vitro fertilization cycles increase success rates. However, this study found that the probability of success actually decreases with each treatment cycle, suggesting a need for updated prognostic estimations.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Biostatistics
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common treatment for infertility.
- Success rates in IVF are influenced by the number of treatment cycles attempted.
- Understanding the relationship between treatment duration and success probability is crucial for patient counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expected number of IVF treatment cycles before success.
- To analyze the independence between success probability and treatment duration.
- To develop a method for updating individual success probabilities in IVF therapy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a Belgian hospital spanning 1983-1987.
- Employed mathematical models of implantation to analyze success probabilities.
- Assessed the probability of success in relation to the number of treatment cycles.
Main Results:
- The overall rate of success in sterility therapy increases with repeated IVF attempts.
- Contrary to initial assumptions, the probability of success was found to decrease during treatment.
- A method for updating individual success probabilities was proposed.
Conclusions:
- Success probability in IVF is not independent of treatment duration and tends to decrease over time.
- The proposed method offers a prognostic estimation for women undergoing IVF.
- This research highlights the importance of considering treatment duration in IVF success predictions.