Assisted reproductive technology outcome in United States of America and Australia with New Zealand: comparison of annual reports 2005-2016

Abstract

In vitro fertilization can be considered as causative factor of increasing rate of multiple pregnancies. Analysis of factors contributing to reduction in the percentage of multiple pregnancies may contribute to overall improvement of ART results. We compared annual reports from The Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database and US National Summary Reports presented by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The aim of this study was to analyze results of ART outcomes in two countries presenting opposite approach to ART, particularly to number of transferred embryos and number of eSETs (elective single embryo transfers). We found significant increase in total number of initiated cycles and transfers with significant shift toward frozen cycles and transfers in both countries. Percentage of eSET increased while average number of embryos transferred per one transfer decreased significantly in both countries without significant difference between countries. We also noticed significant decrease in the rate of multiple pregnancies and percentage of pregnancies resulting in triplets in Australia with New Zealand. Decreasing number of multiple pregnancies and higher percentage of transfers and pregnancies resulting in singleton live birth are the changes in ART politics found in our analysis. United States of America have more significant changes toward eSET, although Australia and New Zealand have significantly higher percentage of eSET from the beginning of analysis.

Keywords: ART outcome; in vitro fertilization; live birth rates; single embryo transfer.