Demographic distributions and clinical results of assisted reproduction techniques in Turkey in 2019: a descriptive survey

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe characteristics and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles performed in 2019 in Turkey.

Material and methods: One-hundred and sixty-five ART centers in Turkey were invited to submit data. The survey was sent to center directors via e-mail with anonymous links by Qualtrics™. The survey involved questions about their patient characteristics, clinical practices, and outcomes.

Results: Forty-one (24.8%) centers responded to e-mails, and data gathered from 25 centers was included in the analyses. In 25 centers, 18,127 fresh or frozen transfers were carried out during the study period, of which 7796 (43.0%) were fresh and the rest were either frozen (45.2%) or embryo transfers (ET) with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) (11.8%). The live birth rate per ET was as 30.6%, 40.1%, and 50.7% in fresh, frozen and PGT cycles, respectively. A single embryo was transferred in 65.3% of all transfers and singleton live births comprised 86.1% of all deliveries. For cycles with intrauterine insemination, 1407 were started in 2019, and 195 clinical pregnancies, 150 live births with 19 multiple pregnancies occurred. A total of 1513 ART cycles were initiated for foreign patients. Russia (29.6%), Germany (7.4%), Iraq (4.6%), Uzbekistan (3.1%), and Syria (1.4%) were the top five countries with most patients coming to Turkey for ART.

Conclusion: The survey results are in parallel with the reports of international institutions and organizations. With repeated editions, the data collected with annual surveys can be used to inform ART practices in the coming years.

Keywords: Assisted reproduction technology; embryo transfer; in-vitro fertilization; medically assisted reproduction.

Figure 1

Distribution of clinics by the number of cycles they performed in 2019 IUI: Intrauterine insemination, IVF: In-vitro fertilization, ICSI: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, FET: Frozen-embryo transfer

Figure 2

Distributions and clinical outcomes by (a) transferred embryo number/stage, (b) age and (c) birth week in fresh cycles SET: Single embryo transfer, DET: Double embryo transfer

Figure 3

Distributions and clinical outcomes by (a) transferred embryo number/stage, (b) age and (c) birth week in frozen cycles SET: Single embryo transfer, DET: Double embryo transfer

Figure 4

Transfer characteristics and results in Fresh, Frozen and PGT cycles ET: Embryo transfer, SET: Single embryo transfer, LBR: Live birth rate, PGT: Preimplantation genetic test