title: Regional clinical practice patterns in reproductive endocrinology: a collaborative transnational pilot survey of in vitro fertilization programs in the Middle East.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This research describes current clinical and demographic features sampled from reproductive endocrinology programs currently offering in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the Middle East.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinic leadership provided data via questionnaire on patient demographics, demand for IVF services, annual cycle volume, indications for IVF, number of embryos transferred, twinning frequency, local regulations governing range of available adjunct therapies, time interval between initial enrollment and beginning IVF as well as information about other aspects of IVF at each center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were received from representative IVF clinics (n = 13) in Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Mean (+/- SD) age of respondents was 47.8 +/- 8 yrs, with average tenure at their facility of 11.2 +/- 6 yrs. Estimated total number of IVF programs in each nation responding ranged from 1 to 91. All respondents reported individual participation in accredited CME activity within 24 months. 76.9% performed embryo transfers personally; blastocyst transfer was available at 84.6% of centers. PGD was offered at all sites. In this population, male factor infertility accounted for most IVF consultations and the majority (59.1%) of female IVF patients were < 35 yrs of age. Prevalence of smoking among female IVF patients was 7.2%. Average number of embryos transferred was 2.4 (+/- 0.4) for patients at age < 35 yrs, and 2.9 (+/- 0.8) at age > 41 yrs. For these age categories, twinning (any type) was observed in 22.6 (+/- 10.8)% and 13.7 (+/- 10.4)%, respectively. In 2005, the average number of IVF cycles completed at study sites was 1194 (range 363-3500) and 1266 (range 263-4000) in 2006. Frozen embryo transfers accounted for 17.2% of cycles at these centers in 2005. Average interval between initial enrollment and IVF cycle start was 8 weeks (range 0.3-3.5 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This sampling of diverse IVF clinics in the Middle East, believed to be the first of its kind, identified several common factors. Government registry or oversight of clinical IVF practice was limited or nonexistent in most countries, yet number of embryos transferred was nevertheless fairly uniform. Sophisticated reproductive health services in this region are associated with minimal delay (often < 8 weeks) from initial presentation to IVF cycle start. Most Middle East nations do not maintain a comprehensive IVF database, and there is no independent agency to collect transnational data on IVF clinics. Our pilot study demonstrates that IVF programs in the Middle East could contribute voluntarily to collaborative network efforts to share clinical data, improve quality of care, and increase patient access to reproductive services in the region.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. esills@rmavb.com
authors.forename: Eric Scott
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Sills
authors.forename: Hussein S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Qublan
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Blumenfeld
authors.forename: Ahmad Vt
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Dizaj
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Revel
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Imad Abou
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Jaoude
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serour
authors.forename: Mamdoh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eskandar
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Aygul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirol
authors.forename: Krinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trokoudes
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ocal
authors.forename: Abdul Munaf
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lotto
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Kareh