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Investigation and current management of recurrent IVF treatment failure in the UK
Author(s) -
Tan Bee K.,
Vandekerckhove Patrick,
Kennedy Richard,
Keay Stephen D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2005.00523.x
Subject(s) - medicine , concordance , intracytoplasmic sperm injection , infertility , in vitro fertilisation , gynecology , unexplained infertility , reproductive medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Objective To determine current practice in the management of recurrent in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment failure in licensed UK infertility centres. Design National postal questionnaire study and literature review. Setting University Hospital, Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Coventry, UK. Sample Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority licensed centres providing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the UK ( n = 79). Methods A survey was designed that sought to determine how recurrent treatment failure was defined and which, if any, investigations were initiated. Furthermore, we asked which therapeutic options were subsequently recommended. Main outcome measures Definition of recurrent treatment failure. Investigations undertaken. Clinical or embryology changes recommended following recurrent treatment failure. Results The response rate was 82%. The most common definition was three unsuccessful IVF cycles (range 2–6). Nineteen percent included frozen embryo replacements (FERs) in this figure. Anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant were the most frequent investigations suggested, followed by hysteroscopy and karyotype. A majority of centres would use a different treatment strategy in a subsequent cycle with blastocyst culture and assisted hatching being most popular. Conclusions The results of this survey suggest that there is considerable variation in the approach to investigation and management of recurrent IVF treatment failure in the UK, although in some areas (e.g. the definition) there was broad concordance. Not all of these approaches are evidence based.