Human Reproduction, Vol. 14, No. 8, 1931-1933,
August 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Opinion |
Are there disadvantages to outpatient IVF? Experiences from current practice in Japan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113, Japan
Recently, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer have been considered to be the standard treatment for tubal factor infertility. It has also been used to treat couples with male infertility for over a decade, with relatively disappointing results (Palermo et al., 1995
). The pregnancy rate of IVF/embryo transfer has steadily increased since the birth of the first baby in 1978 (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 1991). However, for the past few years, the pregnancy rate following conventional IVF has remained steady (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 1998). The introduction of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (Palermo et al., 1992) and the high fertilization and pregnancy rates reported (Van Steirteghem et al., 1993) have established it as the main method for the treatment of male infertility. Since IVF and embryo transfer techniques have been improved and simplified, they are now being practised on an outpatient basis,
Questionnaire regarding IVF/embryo transfer on an outpatient basis in Japan
Statistics of IVF treatment practised on an outpatient basis in Japan
Problems and side-effects of outpatient IVF
Future prospects of IVF on an outpatient basis
Conclusions
Notes
References