Calculating cumulative live-birth rates from linked cycles of assisted reproductive technology (ART): data from the Massachusetts SART CORS

Objective: To determine the feasibility of linking assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles for individual women to compare per-cycle and cumulative live-birth rates. Design: Historical cohort study. Setting: Clinic-based data. Patient(s): A total of 27,906 ART cycles with residency or treatment in Massachusetts during 2004-2006 and reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcomes Reporting System (SART CORS) on-line database. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Per-cycle and cumulative live-birth rates. Result(s): Linkage of cycles up to and including the first live-birth delivery revealed 14,265 women who averaged 1.9 +/- 1.2 SD cycles (range 1-11). These cycles yielded 9,452 pregnancies resulting in 7,675 live-birth deliveries. From cycle 1 to cycle 4, the cumulative live-birth rate for all patients increased from 30.4% to 43.3%, 49.1%, and 51.9%, respectively, and plateaued thereafter at about 53%. The cumulative live-birth rate after three cycles using donor oocytes was similar to 60% for women aged <43 years and >50% for women >= 43 years; for autologous oocytes it was 60.1% for ages <35 years and declined steadily to 8.5% for ages >= 43 years. Conclusion(s): The results demonstrate the feasibility of linking ART cycles for individual women from SART CORS to characterize cumulative live-birth rates. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010; 94: 1334-40. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)