In vitro fertilization in Norfolk, Virginia, 1980-1983

Three years of progress of the Vital Initiation of Pregnancy (VIP) Program in Norfolk is reported. No conception resulted from 41 oocyte aspirations during spontaneous menstrual cycles in 1980. An average of 3.7 oocytes per cycle, or a 73.5% recovery rate, resulted in 362 human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin-induced cycles from January 1981 to March 1983. Forty percent of the oocytes recovered from these cycles were preovulatory, 35% atretic, and 25% immature. Immature oocytes were often matured in vitro, fertilized, and found to produce pregnancies. A total of 62 pregnancies occurred, which represents a 17 or 23% pregnancy rate, based on laparoscopies or embryo transfers, respectively. There were 11 preclinical and 7 clinical miscarriages. Twenty-nine normal babies have been delivered, including a set of twins. The remainder appears to be normally progressing pregnancies. Polyspermia was observed in 8.8% of the fertilizable oocytes.