Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Canada: 2002 results from the Canadian ART Register

OBJECTIVE: To present the success rates of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles performed in 2002 in Canada. This is the second annual report of Canadian ART outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Twenty-one of 22 ART centers in Canada. PATIENT(S): Couples undergoing ART treatment in Canada during 2002. INTERVENTION(S): Assisted reproductive technology treatments, including IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), frozen embryo transfer (FET), and oocyte donation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy, live birth, and multiple birth rates. RESULT(S): A total of 9,188 ART cycles was reported to the Canadian ART Register. There were 6,547 IVF/ICSI cycles using the woman's own oocytes. Per cycle started, the clinical pregnancy rate was 29.9% (36.0% per ET procedure) and the live birth rate was 23.8%; the multiple birth rate per delivery was 34.8%. Of cycles with oocytes retrieved, IVF was performed in 46% and ICSI in 54%; the outcomes were similar with the two procedures. There were 325 IVF/ICSI cycles using donor oocytes. The clinical pregnancy rate was 34.8% and the live birth rate was 24.6%; the multiple birth rate was 34.6%. There were 2,083 FET cycles using the woman's own oocytes. The clinical pregnancy rate was 20.9% and the live birth rate was 16.3%; the multiple birth rate was 25.2%. CONCLUSION(S): For 2002, the Canadian ART Register achieved 95% voluntary participation from Canadian ART centers. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates comparable to those of other countries were achieved. Success rates were higher in 2002 than in the previous year.