Spontaneous pregnancies following discontinuation of IVF/ICSI treatment: an internet-based survey.
The objective was to determine the likelihood of conceiving spontaneously following cessation of IVF/ICSI; how long does it take and what factors are associated with conception? The design was an internet-based survey. All registered users of www.ivf-infertility.com received an electronic questionnaire addressing issues relating to the duration and cause of infertility, number of IVF/ICSI cycles and outcome, whether they conceived following cessation of IVF/ICSI and the time taken to conceive and outcome. Four hundred and eighty four patients responded of whom 403 met the study criteria. The overall cumulative live birth rate over a 6-year period following cessation of IVF/ICSI was 29%. Eighty-two percent of conceptions occurred within 2 years. Positive factors associated with spontaneous conception were unexplained infertility (p = 0.02), ovulation dysfunction (p = 0.01), infertility less than four years prior to IVF/ICSI (p = 0.045) and 2 years or less since discontinuation of IVF/ICSI (p < 0.001) and up to four attempts at IVF/ICSI (p = 0.02). In conclusion, 29% of couples conceived spontaneously over a 6-year period following the cessation of IVF/ICSI. The findings of this study can be used to counsel and reassure women following IVF/ICSI.
a Fifth Year Medical Student , Imperial College London , London , UK ;
Adam P
AP
Marcus
b Specialist Training Registrar, Obstetrics and Gynecology , Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital , Norwich , UK ;
Diana M
DM
Marcus
c Lecturer in Medical Statistics, King's College, Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences , King's College London Capital House , London , UK ;
Salma
S
Ayis
d Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist , Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust , Epsom , UK ;
Antoinette
A
Johnson
e Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist and Clinical Director Gynaecology Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust , Queen Elizabeth Hospital , Woolwich, London , UK.
Samuel F
SF
Marcus
D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D028761:Withholding Treatment
Discontinuation; ICSI; IVF; spontaneous conception; treatment