Reproductive potential of women undergoing ART: analysis of linked cycles from the Massachusetts SART CORS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the numbers of cycles and delivery rates in a cohort of women undergoing ART by linking cycles of ART reported to the national database.DESIGN: Historical cohort study of 28,947 cycles of ART performed during 2004-2006 and reported to the SART CORS Online database.MATERIALS AND METHODS: ART cycles of women who were either treated or residing in Massachusetts were linked according to date of birth, last name, and first name. Misspellings and phonetic matches were identified using Soundex software. Linkages were reconfirmed through a secondary analysis using additional variables. In accordance with the specifics of the Dartmouth College IRB approval, identifiable data did not leave the offices where the SART CORS database is maintained. Evaluation of cycle characteristics for each woman was done using a de-identified dataset with coded linkages.RESULTS: There were 6,727 (23%) single cycles, 21,422 (74%) within-clinic cycle matches, and 798 (3%) between-clinic cycle matches among the 14,293 women treated with ART during the three-year period. The average number of cycles was 2.0 ± 1.3, with a range of 1-11 cycles. One out of ten women had at least one donor egg/embryo cycle and one out of four had at least one frozen cycle. The table below gives live birth delivery rates for one or more infants (plurality is not shown). Delivery rates per cycle declined with each subsequent cycle. Overall delivery rates per woman declined with advancing maternal age at first cycle: 68.7% for ages <35yr; 58.1% for 35-37yr; 44.6% for 38-40yr; and 34.5% for >40yr.TableCycles of ARTLive Birth Deliveries in Each Cycle (#)Number of Women at Risk in Each Cycle (#)Live Birth Delivery Rate at Each Cycle (%)Cumulative Live Birth Deliveries (#)Cumulative Live Birth Delivery Rate Per Woman∗This is a conservative estimate based on the assumption that all future cycles would be unsuccessful. (%)14,32914,29330.34,32930.321,9917,56626.36,32044.239153,85823.77,23550.644571,86124.67,69253.8519682723.77,88855.267634422.17,96455.772712821.17,99155.98114922.58,00256.09-1131520.08,00556.0∗ This is a conservative estimate based on the assumption that all future cycles would be unsuccessful. Open table in a new tab OBJECTIVE: To determine the numbers of cycles and delivery rates in a cohort of women undergoing ART by linking cycles of ART reported to the national database. DESIGN: Historical cohort study of 28,947 cycles of ART performed during 2004-2006 and reported to the SART CORS Online database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ART cycles of women who were either treated or residing in Massachusetts were linked according to date of birth, last name, and first name. Misspellings and phonetic matches were identified using Soundex software. Linkages were reconfirmed through a secondary analysis using additional variables. In accordance with the specifics of the Dartmouth College IRB approval, identifiable data did not leave the offices where the SART CORS database is maintained. Evaluation of cycle characteristics for each woman was done using a de-identified dataset with coded linkages. RESULTS: There were 6,727 (23%) single cycles, 21,422 (74%) within-clinic cycle matches, and 798 (3%) between-clinic cycle matches among the 14,293 women treated with ART during the three-year period. The average number of cycles was 2.0 ± 1.3, with a range of 1-11 cycles. One out of ten women had at least one donor egg/embryo cycle and one out of four had at least one frozen cycle. The table below gives live birth delivery rates for one or more infants (plurality is not shown). Delivery rates per cycle declined with each subsequent cycle. Overall delivery rates per woman declined with advancing maternal age at first cycle: 68.7% for ages <35yr; 58.1% for 35-37yr; 44.6% for 38-40yr; and 34.5% for >40yr.