CARTR Annual report – 2008

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Canada: 2008 results from the Canadian ART Register

Joanne Gunby, M.Sc.
CARTR Co-ordinator

Abstract

All 28 Canadian assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics participated in the Canadian ART Register (CARTR) for 2008. A total of 15,000 cycles was reported to CARTR, resulting in 5034 clinical pregnancies and at least 3976 deliveries, 3932 live births, 1089 multiple births (including 38 high-order multiple births), and 5104 infants, 43% of whom were from multiple gestations. Birth outcomes were unknown for 140 ongoing pregnancies (3.4%).

In 9904 IVF/ICSI cycles using the woman’s own oocytes, per cycle started, the clinical pregnancy rate was 36.5% (42.1% per ET), the live birth rate was 29.1%, the singleton live birth rate was 20.7%, and the healthy term singleton rate was 15.9%; the multiple birth rate per delivery was 28.9%, with a high-order multiple birth rate of 1.0%. ICSI was performed in 71% of cycles. One or two embryos were transferred in 69% of cycles. In 431 IVF/ICSI cycles using donor oocytes, per cycle started, the clinical pregnancy rate was 49.7%, the live birth rate was 39.8%, the singleton live birth rate was 24.7%, and the healthy term singleton rate was 18.4%; the multiple birth rate was 37.4%, with a high-order multiple birth rate of 1.1%. In 3738 FET cycles using the woman’s own oocytes, per cycle started, the clinical pregnancy rate was 26.0%, the live birth rate was 19.8%, the singleton live birth rate was 15.7%, and the healthy term singleton rate was 12.2%; the multiple birth rate was 20.3%, with a high-order multiple birth rate of 0.9%.

Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates and number of ART cycles performed continued to increase in 2008 compared with previous years. In IVF/ICSI and FET cycles, multiple birth rates decreased and the high-order multiple birth rate was 1% or less.

Full article is available: CARTR 2008