Couples offered free assisted reproduction treatment have a very high chance of achieving a live birth within 4 years

Objective To assess the long-term success rate among couples with primary infertility offered unrestricted, free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Design Historical prospective cohort study. Setting University-based tertiary medical center with unlimited coverage of IVF for couples' first two children. Patient(s) Women aged Intervention(s) Relevant data were obtained from patient files and supplemented by a standardized telephone questionnaire. Main Outcome Measure(s) Pregnancies, live births, adoptions, divorces, and discontinuations of further treatment. Result(s) During the 5- to 7-year follow-up period, 95.5% of couples conceived, and 89.6% of couples gave birth to a live infant. Of these couples, 81.3% achieved a live birth within the first 4 years of the follow-up period, and 85.1% within eight treatment cycles. Of the 14 couples (10.4%) who did not give birth to a live infant, five adopted, two divorced, four are still undergoing IVF treatments, and three (1.8%) decided not to become parents. Conclusion(s) Young couples beginning IVF treatment in an environment free of economic hurdles can be reassured that they have an excellent chance (∼90%) of achieving a live birth within 4 years. When IVF is provided free of cost, very few couples discontinue treatment before a live birth is achieved.