ABSTRACT
During the past three decades, dramatic changes have occurred in the therapeutic methods available for the treatment of infertility, beginning with the use of gonadotropins for induction of ovulation in the 1960s1 to the current use of these agents in combination with sophisticated in vitro techniques1-3. It is axiomatic that the treatments for infertility not only have the potential to alleviate this condition, but also carry with them the risk of inducing multiple pregnancies, as is discussed repeatedly in this volume. The importance of providing treatment for infertile patients cannot be underestimated from either a personal or a societal perspective. For reasons that are as yet unclear, infertility is associated with increased medical risks for women. Although it is difficult to quantify the spectrum of the benefits of infertility treatments, it is of increasing importance to understand the costs of the treatment per se, as well as the costs associated with sideeffects, and to examine the impact of mandated infertility coverage on a variety of outcomes. This chapter reviews available data addressing these issues.
