Cumulative pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcome after in-vitro fertilization: > 5000 cycles at one centre.

Cumulative pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcome analysis are useful methods for advising an infertile couple of the probability of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) success. All 5209 IVF cycles in 2391 couples at University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada, over 10 years were studied. Cumulative pregnancy rates were estimated using life table analysis. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the influence of covariates. Oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer were achieved in 84 and 64% of cycles initiated respectively. There were 644 intra-uterine and 24 ectopic pregnancies (13%/cycle initiated, 15%/oocyte retrieval and 20%/embryo transfer). Cumulative pregnancy rates following six cycles were: tubal 55%, idiopathic 65%, endometriosis 60%, multifactorial 63% and male 40%. There were 68 spontaneous abortions (10.6%) and three induced abortions for congenital anomalies. The multiple gestation rate was 22%. Caesarean section and preterm delivery rates were 35 and 20% respectively, due in part to the high proportion of multiple gestations. Of 15 deliveries which resulted in stillbirths and/or neonatal deaths, 12 were multiple gestations; 18 pregnancies (3.3%) were complicated by congenital malformations. No increases in congenital malformations or spontaneous abortions were identified. Cumulative pregnancy rates were lower in cases of male infertility. Success rates did not decline with successive IVF cycles. IVF is an evolving infertility treatment.