title: Couples offered free assisted reproduction treatment have a very high chance of achieving a live birth within 4 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the long-term success rate among couples with primary infertility offered unrestricted, free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Historical prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based tertiary medical center with unlimited coverage of IVF for couples' first two children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women aged <35 years, with primary infertility, referred for their first IVF treatment to the Sheba Medical Center IVF unit between 2001 and 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant data were obtained from patient files and supplemented by a standardized telephone questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancies, live births, adoptions, divorces, and discontinuations of further treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 5- to 7-year follow-up period, 95.5% of couples conceived, and 89.6% of couples gave birth to a live infant. Of these couples, 81.3% achieved a live birth within the first 4 years of the follow-up period, and 85.1% within eight treatment cycles. Of the 14 couples (10.4%) who did not give birth to a live infant, five adopted, two divorced, four are still undergoing IVF treatments, and three (1.8%) decided not to become parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young couples beginning IVF treatment in an environment free of economic hurdles can be reassured that they have an excellent chance (∼ 90%) of achieving a live birth within 4 years. When IVF is provided free of cost, very few couples discontinue treatment before a live birth is achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel. y.lande@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yechezkel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lande
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: Ettie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maman
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Jehoshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dor
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hourvitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005249:Fees and Charges; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000191:economics*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome