Wednesday 4 May 2005
IVF may not be most effective fertility treatment
Source: Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2005; CD003357
A Cochrane review investigates whether IVF is associated with a higher live birth rate than alternative treatments in the context of unexplained infertility.
While IVF clearly increases the chances of having a baby for couples with unexplained infertility, it may not be any more effective than other, less invasive, treatment options, the results of a Cochrane review reveal.
"With increasing awareness of the role of expectant management and less invasive procedures such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), concerns about multiple complications and costs associated with IVF, it is extremely important to evaluate the effectiveness of IVF against other treatment options in couples with unexplained infertility," write Z. Pandian and co-authors from the University of Aberdeen in the UK.
Accordingly, the team reviewed data from the six randomized controlled trials in the literature addressing this issue.
Their analysis failed to find any significant differences between live birth rates achieved through IVF and those obtained using IUI alone, IUI with ovarian stimulation, or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). Significant improvements in pregnancy rates, however, were found with IVF, in comparison with both expectant management and GIFT.
Pandian et al nevertheless conclude: "Any effect of IVF relative to expectant management, clomiphene citrate, IUI with or without ovarian stimulation and GIFT in terms of live-birth rates for couples with unexplained subfertility remains unknown. The studies included are limited by their small sample size so that even large differences might be hidden."
Posted: 3 May 2005
http://www.obgynworld.com/international/news/2005/Week_18/Day_2/IVF_may_not_be_most_.asp 
IVF may not be most effective fertility treatment (article) 
