How to make assisted reproductive technologies (ART) affordable in Bosnia and Herzegovina: experience after the first 105 cycles.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the results after the first 105 cycles in private IVF centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of one hundred and five infertile couples who underwent IVF procedures.

RESULTS

The mean age of women who underwent IVF/ ICSI was 34.1 +/- 5.1. The male factor was the cause of infertility in 50 (47.6%), tubal factor in 24 (22.2%), idiopathic infertility in 14 (13.3%), advanced age in 14 (13.3%) and PCOS in 4 (3.8%) infertile couples. The average number of retrieved oocyte was 7.84 +/- 5.30. In 96.2% cycles ICSI was performed and in 3.8% IVF/ICSI. The average number of transferred embryos per cycle was 2.49 +/- 0.9. The pregnancy rate per aspiration was 26.7%. The clinical pregnancy rate per transfer was 26.3%. The percentage of live births per transfer to date was 13.1% and 7 of them are still pregnant. In the entire group of pregnant women 40% had twin pregnancies, 1 of them had an ectopic pregnancy (1.01%) and 4 (4.04%) had spontaneous abortions.

CONCLUSIONS

The pregnancy and delivery rates are not satisfactory. The twin pregnancy rate is higher than is acceptable. Low-cost hormonal stimulation, natural cycles and freezing of embryos could be a possible way to make IVF affordable to a larger number of infertile couples.