Prognostic Indicators and Treatment Effectiveness in a Cohort of InfertileCouples. Executive Summary

摘要

A non-concurrent cohort study of 695 infertile patient-couples was conducted toassess prognostic indicators across and within diagnosis groups, and to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Variables associated with poorer prognosis across and within diagnoses included older women's age, longer duration of infertility, primary infertility, and cigarette smoking. Multifactorial infertility was generally related to poorer prognosis. Cycle-specific treatments such as ovulation induction drugs and artificial insemination were highly effective, particularly in the cycle of intervention. Ovulation drugs showed a persisting efficacy for up to three cycles after induction. The authors were unable to demonstrate a strong treatment effect for non-cycle-specific treatments such as tubal repair (except among women with bilateral occlusion) or endometriosis surgery.