title: Reporting in vitro fertilization cycles to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology database: where have all the cycles gone?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between live birth rates (LBRs) and the incidence of under-reported cycles by IVF clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients undergoing IVF cycles in the aforementioned clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reporting percentage (RP), defined as number of cycles with reported pregnancy rates divided by total cycles performed. Results from cryopreservation cycles are only presented by SART if an embryo transfer occurs. Thus, RP decreases as incidence of embryo or oocyte banking cycles increases. The LBRs in women aged <35 years were compared between clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median RP of all clinics was 93%-97%. Clinics with RP <80% increased from 2 in 2004 to 30 in 2012. Twenty-one clinics had an RP that fell 2 standard deviations below the mean in any year. Over the 9 years, there was a negative correlation between RP and LBR of -0.17, but for the 21 outlier clinics the correlation increased to -0.26. In 2012 alone, in outlier clinics, for every 10% drop in RP there was an associated rise in LBR of 4.3%; some clinics reported 40% fewer cycles than the median.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In clinics with very low RP, the cycles that are reported have higher success rates. Regardless of intent, the reduction of reported data to SART makes it increasingly difficult for clinicians and patients to accurately assess a clinic's success rates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey; University Reproductive Associates, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Electronic address: davidkulak@gmail.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kulak
authors.affiliation: Montefiore's Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Health, Hartsdale, New York; Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Hartsdale, New York.
authors.forename: Sangita K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jindal
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Heath, New York University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Cheongeun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey; University Reproductive Associates, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Sara S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey, Eatontown, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kratka
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey; University Reproductive Associates, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey; Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McGovern
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D058028:Research Report / Q000639:trends*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*
keywords: Clinic summary report; SART; egg freezing; embryo banking; in vitro fertilization