Assisted reproductive technology in the United States: 1999 results generated from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine/Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Registry

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the procedures and outcomes of ART initiated in the United States in 1999.

Design: Data were collected electronically by using the SART Clinical Outcome Reporting System software and submitted to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine/Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Registry.

Participant(s): Three hundred sixty programs submitted data on procedures performed in 1999. Data were collated after November 2000 so that the outcome of all pregnancies established would be known.

Main outcome measure(s): Incidence of clinical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, abortion, stillbirth, and delivery.

Result(s): Programs reported initiating 88,077 cycles of ART treatment. Of these, 63,639 cycles involved IVF (with and without micromanipulation), with a delivery rate per retrieval of 29.4%; 838 were cycles of gamete intrafallopian transfer, with a delivery rate per retrieval of 27.9%; 945 were cycles of zygote intrafallopian transfer, with a delivery rate per retrieval of 29.8%. The following additional ART procedures were also initiated: 6,509 fresh donor oocyte cycles, with a delivery rate per transfer of 41.8%; 12,005 frozen embryo transfer procedures, with a delivery rate per transfer of 18.6%; 2,488 frozen embryo transfers using donated oocytes or embryos, with a delivery rate per transfer of 23.6%, and 821 cycles using a host uterus, with a delivery rate per transfer of 33.6%. In addition, 398 cycles were reported as combinations of more than one treatment type, 18 cycles as research, and 416 as embryo banking. As a result of all procedures, 21,904 deliveries were reported, resulting in 30,967 neonates.

Conclusion(s): In 1999, more programs reported ART treatment and reported cycles increased significantly (7.5%) compared to 1998. In comparable cycle types, the overall success rate (deliveries per retrieval) increased by 0.4%, which represents an increase of 1.2% compared to the success rate for 1998.