Worldwide Report Shows Increase In ART

A study published in the journal Human Reproduction shows a 25% increase in ART cycles worldwide and approximately 250,000 babies born in one year. The report consists of data from the year 2002 (the latest year in which figures are available) and includes data from 1563 clinics in 53 countries. This is the eighth reported compiled by the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) since 1989- the last report was two years ago. There were a number of key findings: a increase in the use of ICSI, an increase in pregnancy and delivery rates, a decrease in the number of embryos transferred, and an increase in the number of frozen embryo transfer cycles. The USA (the report includes most clinics) had the highest cumulative (both fresh and frozen transfers) delivery rate per egg retrieval- 37.5%. The authors warn that variation in data quality, in addition to differences in practices, legislation, guidelines, culture and religion, means that comparisons between countries "must be done with caution".