First line fertility treatment strategies regarding IUI and IVF require clinical evidence

Abstract The advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has contributed to a significant growth in the delivery of assisted conception technique, such that IVF/ICSI procedures are now recommended over other interventions. Even the UK National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) guidel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human reproduction (Oxford) 2016-06, Vol.31 (6), p.1141-1146
Main Authors: Bahadur, G., Homburg, R., Muneer, A., Racich, P., Alangaden, T., Al-Habib, A., Okolo, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Evidence-Based Medicine
Female
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Infertility - therapy
Male
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - economics
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - ethics
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Summary:Abstract The advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has contributed to a significant growth in the delivery of assisted conception technique, such that IVF/ICSI procedures are now recommended over other interventions. Even the UK National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines controversially recommends against intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures in favour of IVF. We reflect on some of the clinical, economic, financial and ethical realities that have been used to selectively promote IVF over IUI, which is less intrusive and more patient friendly, obviates the need for embryo storage and has a global application. The evidence strongly favours IUI over IVF in selected couples and national funding strategies should include IUI treatment options. IUI, practised optimally as a first line treatment in up to six cycles, would also ease the pressures on public funds to allow the provision of up to three IVF cycles for couple who need it. Fertility clinics should also strive towards ISO15189 accreditation standards for basic semen diagnosis for male infertility used to triage ICSI treatment, to reduce the over-diagnosis of severe male factor infertility. Importantly, there is a need to develop global guidelines on inclusion policies for IVF/ICSI procedures. These suggestions are an ethically sound basis for constructing the provision of publicly funded fertility treatments.
ISSN:0268-1161
1460-2350
DOI:10.1093/humrep/dew075