In vitro fertilization in a community hospital

Blodgett Memorial Medical Center began developing an IVF program in September of 1982. It took 10 months to establish animal and human IVF laboratories and an andrology laboratory. All personnel were recruited from within the hospital. From August 1983 through March 1985, 49 patients went through 58 complete IVF laparoscopy cycles. hMG and hCG were used to stimulate folliculogenesis and ovum maturation. An average of 5.2 oocytes was obtained by laparoscopic follicular aspiration. Eighty-four percent were either mature or intermediate oocytes. The fertilization rate per oocyte was 67%. Eighty percent underwent cleavage. Forty-seven patients (81%) received 1 or more embryos, with an average of 2.8 embryos each. There have been 12 pregnancies, including 3 abortions and 3 multiple pregnancies. Eight healthy infants have been born to date. The pregnancy rate per laparoscopy cycle was 21% and per transfer cycle was 26%. As a result of the IVF program, other services for infertile couples have been developed.