title: The long-term outcome of 946 consecutive couples visiting a fertility clinic in 2001-2003.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the outcome of fertility work-up, treatment, and dropout in a cohort of subfertile couples in a well-defined area in Western Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maastricht University Medical Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subfertile couples referred by their general physician between 2001 and 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data, findings of the fertility investigation, and outcome of treatment were entered prospectively into a database. Follow-up was performed until November 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis, treatment, dropout rate, pregnancy rate, and live-birth rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 946 couples were referred, of whom 17% dropped out. Follow-up was complete in 94% of couples. Spontaneous pregnancies occurred in 28% of all couples, and there were 32% treatment-dependent pregnancies. IVF (51% live births in couples treated) and no treatment/expectant management (50%) were the most effective treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After 5-8 years, 51% of couples referred for subfertility had at least one live birth.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht, the Netherlands. j.donckers@live.nl
authors.forename: Janneke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donckers
authors.forename: Johannes L H
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.forename: Jolande A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Land
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000639:trends*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000639:trends*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult