Cumulative pregnancy rates and selective drop-out off patients in in-vitro fertilization treatment

Abstract

The validity of the cumulative pregnancy rate (CPE) calculated by life-table approach, obtained In a transport in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme, was tested by tie determination of possible influence of selective drop-out of patients with a poor treatment prognosis. A cohort of 1211 patients who had a first IVF cycle was followed, and the CPE after three IVF cycles was assessed. First cycles of patients who discontinued treatment after failed IVF, and of those who did not achieve a pregnancy bet proceeded to a subsequent cycle, were compared for fertilization rate and for occurrence of prognosticated of poor treatment outcome: oocyte yield ⩽2, and replacement of <2 embryos. The CPU after three cycles was 54.9%. No differences were found In the first and second cycles of patients who continued treatment and those who dropped out. Selective drop-out of patients with a poor treatment prognosis was not found. Therefore, although calculations of CPE using life-table analysis generally overestimate the real probability of pregnancy after successive IVF cycles, the calculated CPR after three IVF cycles gives a reliable indication of the chance of occurrence of a pregnancy for the population studied.