The effect of legislation on outcomes of assisted reproduction technology: lessons from the 2004 Italian law.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of the 2004 Italian regulations (insemination of <or=3 oocytes/cycle, transfer of all embryos, prohibition of embryo cryopreservation) on outcomes of assisted reproduction treatment (ART).


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.


METHODS
Women undergoing ART for the first time.


METHODS
Comparing outcomes of ART between 2 years before (n = 900) and after (n = 936) the law's implementation (March 10, 2004).


METHODS
Rates of fertilization, pregnancy, "take-home baby," and multiple pregnancies.


RESULTS
During the pre-law period, statistically significantly more patients reached embryo transfer (odds ratio 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5, 2.5), and embryo transfer rate per cycle was statistically significantly higher (3.1 +/- 1.7 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.7), but the overall transfer of good embryos was lower (OR 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5, 0.8). The pregnancy rates per aspiration cycle were similar between the periods, but the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer and birth rate with at least one liveborn baby per embryo transfer were statistically significantly lower in the pre-law period (OR 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5, 0.9). The multiple births rate was not different between the two periods.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to prior pessimistic expectations, the obligation to transfer all available embryos produced from <or=3 inseminated oocytes neither reduced success rates of ART nor increased the multiple births rate.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Giovanni Battista
GB
La Sala
Maria Teresa
MT
Villani
Alessia
A
Nicoli
Barbara
B
Valli
Francesca
F
Iannotti
Isaac
I
Blickstein
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033161:Government Regulation; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007558:Italy; D050498:Live Birth; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome