Success in Fertility Treatment ::

A successful outcome of infertility treatment is the live birth of a baby. This ultimate goal of all infertility treatment is achieved with variable success. The assessment of the infertile couple, arriving at the cause for the problem and planning appropriate treatment are the most important functions of a fertility clinic.

What factors influence success of infertility treatment?

1. The age of the female partner:
Fertility is age-related in the female, more so than the male. The biological time scale for fertility is from the onset of menstrual cycles to 5 – 10 years before menopause. The biological fact limits the time at which treatment should be carried out if success is to be achieved. The average age of patients undergoing treatment at the Centre is 33 years (compared to 35.5 years in the UK). This population of patients has an average success rate of 30% with GIFT, IVF & ICSI treatments. In patients who are 38 years, or more, the success rate is 15%, or less.

2. The cause of infertility:
Some causes of infertility are reversible and thereby easy to treat. Anovulation (lack of regular egg production) is treated with drugs and usually produces a high success rate. However, severe Fallopian tubal damage, endometriosis, uterus pathology and severe male factor are difficult to treat. There are also unknown areas of infertility, such as implantation, genetic potential of the embryo to produce a baby, that are still being researched.

3. Duration of infertility (despite several treatments) :
The longer the duration of infertility, despite assisted conception treatment, the lower the chance of successful treatment. However, in some couples, receiving the most appropriate treatment can lead to a successful outcome. It is therefore very important to seek treatment at the most advanced centre in the infertility management to ensure that the best treatment is carried out.
 

Statistics of assisted conception  treatment up to November 2003
	IVF	ICSI	GIFT
Positive Pregnancies/ET%	39.3%	34.4%	28.5%