Cohort follow-up of couples with primary infertility in an ART programme using frozen donor semen.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to determine the crude cumulative live-birth rates in a cohort initiating frozen donor semen treatment until completion.


METHODS
This cohort study included 588 couples with primary infertility in one University Hospital centre. The treatment sequence involved first artificial insemination (AID) followed by IVF if necessary (IVF-D). Live birth, drop-out for personal or medical reasons and recourse to IVF-D were recorded for all patients. Live births and drop-out were expressed both as rates per cycle and crude cumulative rates.


RESULTS
At the completion of AID and IVF-D cycles, 406 couples in the cohort (69%) achieved a live-birth and 182 couples (31%) discontinued treatment. In most cases, couples stopped treatment for personal reasons (74%) whereas fewer couples were denied further treatment for medical reasons (26%).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report on the crude cumulative live-birth rate in a cohort after AID and IVF-D cycles. Although calculation based on crude cumulative live-birth rate shows lower results in comparison with life table analysis, this method allows patients to obtain an insight into their actual chances of achieving a successful pregnancy.
Guerif
Fabrice
F
CECOS, Biologie de la Reproduction, Département de Gynécologie-Obstétrique et Reproduction Humaine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bretonneau, 37044 Tours, France.
Fourquet
Florence
F
Marret
Henri
H
Saussereau
Marie-Helene
MH
Barthelemy
Claire
C
Lecomte
Claire
C
Lecomte
Pierre
P
Lansac
Jacques
J
Royere
Dominique
D
D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted