THE LIKELIHOOD OF PREGNANCY WITH IVF AND GIFT IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW-ZEALAND

Objective: To determine the likelihood of pregnancy for couples entering the New Reproductive Technology (NRT) programs in Australia and New Zealand, by combining the data from nearly all the practising units. Design: All units practising in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and/or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) were contacted and asked to provide data on patients treated and pregnancy rates. These figures were then combined to produce life tables to determine the likelihood of pregnancy with repeated attempts. Setting: IVF/GIFT units in five States of Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. Eighteen of the 22 units provided data to be analysed. Patients: Data were available for analysis on 18 089 cycles of IVF resulting in 3034 clinical pregnancies, and 6308 cycles of GIFT resulting in 1724 clinical pregnancies. Main outcome measures: This was either ''clinical pregnancy'' (the presence of products of conception on ultrasound examination), or ''viable pregnancy'' (a pregnancy developing to at least 20 weeks of gestation). Results: After four attempts at IVF, half the couples achieved a pregnancy, whereas four attempts at GIFT resulted in two-thirds of the couples achieving pregnancy. Conclusion: Both IVF and GIFT are effective and successful options for infertile or subfertile couples. New Reproductive Technology should be readily available in every advanced clinic dealing with subfertile couples in the 1990s.