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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on March 11, 2004

Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh181
© 2004 by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
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Received November 11, 2003
Accepted December 16, 2003

Debate - continued

What is the most relevant standard of success in assisted reproduction?

Richard P. Dickey 1*, Belinda M. Sartor 2, and Roman Pyrzak 2

1 The Fertility Institute of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; The Fertility Institute of New Orleans, 6020 Bullard Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70128, USA
2 The Fertility Institute of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: info{at}fertilityinstitute.com.


   Abstract

The 2002 recommendation of the consensus meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) that the outcome measure of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and non-ART should be ‘singleton live birth rate’ could profoundly effect the ability of infertility patients to become pregnant. We reviewed published reports and new data concerning elective single embryo transfer (eSET) vs. double embryo transfer (DET) and the outcome of twin pregnancies in the United States, as well as recommendations of other Societies concerning number of embryos to transfer and methods used to measure ART success. We found that no single outcome measure of ART is ideal. Mandatory eSET would result in 42%-70% fewer births compared to DET. Infertility treatments account for only 12% of all twin pregnancies and 4% of all premature births in the United States. Twin and singleton births due to ART do not occur earlier than spontaneously conceived twins and singletons unless they started as triplet and higher order pregnancies. Multiple outcome measures are necessary when evaluating ART success. Twin as well as singleton births should be counted as ART successes. The essential aim of infertility treatment should be a healthy low order (singleton or twin) birth.

Key words: Key words: assisted reproductive technology; in vitro fertilization; outcome measures; twin births; singleton births


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