Success of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in relation to the causes of infertility.

In 1984 163 patients were treated in our in vitro fertilization program, including 4 patients accepting embryos from the oocyte and embryo donation program. Twenty pregnancies were achieved with an average chance per transfer of 16,6%. The final success of IVF strongly depends on the cause of infertility. The best results were obtained for patients with tubal infertility, with a pregnancy rate of 15% per laparoscopy and 19% per transfer. There is a significant decrease in oocyte cleavage rate from tubal (61%) to male infertility (13%). Once the barrier of embryo formation is taken, there is no marked difference in the mean number of embryos transferred on the pregnancy rate after transfer, among the different patient groups. In patients with tubal infertility the pregnancy rate per cycle remains constant, resulting in a cumulative pregnancy rate of 40% after 3 cycles.