ABSTRACT

Success of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is defined as the number of live births per treatment cycle commenced. All centres providing treatment by IVF or with donated gametes in the UK are required by law to submit information about every treatment cycle commenced. The outcome of IVF is determined primarily by the age of the woman, her previous reproductive history and the duration of the infertility. The live birth rate is 13.6 per cent in women with a tubal disorder, 14.2 per cent with endometriosis and 13.4 per cent in unexplained infertility when the age of the woman and the duration of infertility are adjusted statistically. The live birth rate and the multiple birth rate per cycle are increased when more than one embryo is replaced. The perinatal mortality rate per 1000 births increases with the number of embryos replaced.