Early pregnancy loss in in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a positive predictor of subsequent IVF success

Objective: To determine the significance of biochemical pregnancy losses and clinical spontaneous abortion (SAB) on outcomes of future IVF cycles. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Academic IVF program. Patient(s): Women with a history of unsuccessful IVF attempts undergoing IVF. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical pregnancy rate. Result(s): Patients with an early pregnancy loss had a greater ongoing clinical pregnancy rate in the immediate next cycle when compared with those women who had a negative pregnancy test (37.3% vs. 27.3%). Patients with a history of a biochemical pregnancy or a clinical spontaneous abortion had an ongoing clinical pregnancy rate in the next cycle of 38.4% and 42.3%, respectively, compared with 27.3% in women who had a history of a negative pregnancy test. The cumulative pregnancy rate after the first IVF attempt was 54.1% in patients with a previous biochemical pregnancy loss, 61.4% in those with a previous clinical SAB, and 46.5% in women with a previous negative pregnancy test. Conclusion(s): Women who experience an early pregnancy loss after IVF have a greater likelihood of success in subsequent IVF cycles when compared with patients who fail to conceive. (Fertil Steril(R) 2002;77: 337-41. (C)2002 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).