Research question:
What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive
technologies (ART) performed in Latin American countries during 2015, and
what were the regional trends?
Design:
Retrospective collection of multinational data on assisted reproduction
techniques (IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI], frozen embryo
transfer, oocyte donation, preimplantation genetic testing and fertility
preservation), from 175 institutions in 15 Latin American countries.
Results:
In total, 41.25% of IVF/ICSI cycles were performed in women aged 35-39 years,
and 28.35% in women aged ≥40 years. After removing freeze-all cycles,
delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 21.39% for ICSI and 24.29% for IVF.
Multiple births included 19.58% twins and 0.95% triplets and higher. In
oocyte donation, delivery rate per transfer was 36.77%, with a twin and
triplet rate of 27.65% and 1.06%, respectively. Overall, preterm deliveries
reached 17.38% in singletons, 64.94% in twins and 98.41% in triplets.
Perinatal mortality in 14,936 births and 18,391 babies born was 10.5 per
1000 in singletons, 17.9 per 1000 in twins, and 57.1 per 1000 in high-order
multiples. Elective single embryo transfer represented 3.11% of fresh
transfers, with a 31.78% delivery rate per transfer. Elective double embryo
transfer represented 23.3% of transfers, with a 37.79% delivery rate per
transfer. Out of 18,391 babies born, 63.22% were singletons, 34.4% twins,
and 2.38% triplets and higher.
Conclusions:
Given the effect of multiple births on prematurity, morbidity and perinatal
mortality, reinforcing the existing trend of reducing the number of embryos
transferred remains mandatory.