Danish National IVF Registry 1994 and 1995. Treatment, pregnancy outcome and complications during pregnancy.

SUBJECT: Data from the compulsory Danish National IVF Registry from 1994 and 1995 regarding treatments, abortions and complications following assisted reproductive technologies.

METHODS

Data were generated through registries and compared to pregnancies in Denmark in 1995. Those pregnancies that resulted in a delivery were compared to a matched control group.

RESULTS

In 1994 and 1995 5219 women were treated in 9471 initiated cycles. The numbers increased over the period. The overall delivery rate per initiated cycle was 19%, egg donation 24%, IVF 20%, ICSI 16% and frozen egg replacement 10%. The rates increased over the period. The rate of spontaneous abortions was highest for ICSI (25%) and egg donation (27%). For IVF and ICSI the birth rates per transfer of 1 embryo was 13, 1%, 2 embryos 25, 4%, 3 embryos 25, 8% and 4 or more 3, 8%. Transfer of 2 embryos resulted in 75% singleton, 25% twin and 0.2% triplet deliveries. After transfer of 3 embryos the corresponding rates were 68%, 29% and 4%. No quadruplet deliveries occurred. Totally, 1.4% reported complications to the treatment, the most frequent being ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. In the study group 5.8% of the women who gave birth were diagnosed with imminent abortion vs. 3.0% in the control group (OR 1.98, CI 1.41-2.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Transfer of three embryos did not result in higher pregnancy rates as compared to transfer of two embryos. The first data from the Danish IVF Registry support data from other registries regarding treatment, pregnancy outcome and complications during pregnancy.