Prioritizing IVF treatment in the post-COVID 19 era: a predictive modelling study based on UK national data

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONCan we use prediction modelling to estimate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) related delay in starting IVF or ICSI in different groups of women?SUMMARY ANSWERYes, using a combination of three different models we can predict the impact of delaying access to treatment by 6 and 12  months on the probability of conception leading to live birth in women of different age groups with different categories of infertility.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYIncreased age and duration of infertility can prejudice the chances of success following IVF, but couples with unexplained infertility have a chance of conceiving naturally without treatment whilst waiting for IVF. The worldwide suspension of IVF could lead to worse outcomes in couples awaiting treatment, but it is unclear to what extent this could affect individual couples based on age and cause of infertility.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONA population-based cohort study based on national data from all licensed clinics in the UK obtained from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Register. Linked data from 9589 women who underwent their first IVF or ICSI treatment in 2017 and consented to the use of their data for research were used to predict livebirth.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSThree prediction models were used to estimate the chances of livebirth associated with immediate treatment versus a delay of 6 and 12  months in couples about to embark on IVF or ICSI.MAIN RESULTS AND THE R...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research