Toward a more meaningful in vitro fertilization success rate.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to explore the variability in in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates.


METHODS
Published success rates from IVF clinics in North America were investigated to establish types of biases and potential inaccuracies.


RESULTS
Success rates reported by IVF clinics vary with regard to the indices and patient populations used to compute them. Selection bias and misunderstood statistics are major factors contributing to the inappropriateness of certain rates.


CONCLUSIONS
The influence of privatization and market forces also may contribute to the need to oversimplify IVF statistics.
Deonandan
R
R
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.
Campbell
M K
MK
Østbye
T
T
Tummon
I
I
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D015993:Life Tables; D009656:North America; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D015983:Selection Bias; D016896:Treatment Outcome