Improvement of IVF results and optimisation of quality control by using intermittent activity

• Published in: Reproductive biomedicine online 2004-11, Vol.9 (5), p.521-528
• Main Authors: Frydman, Nelly, Fanchin, Rénato, Le Dû, Anne, Bourrier, Marie Catherine, Tachdjian, Gérard, Frydman, René
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - standards; Humans; indicators of quality; intermittent IVF activity; Oocytes; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Quality Control; Reproductive Medicine - standards
• ISSN: 1472-6483; 1472-6491
• DOI: 10.1016/S1472-6483(10)61636-7

For several years the present authors' team had not been satisfied with the pregnancy rate achieved by their unit, especially in comparison with the results achieved by other teams with a similar population. A quality programme was established, and it was decided to switch from non-stop to intermittent activity. It was envisaged that this programme would provide a more realistic view of the team's activity and could also, as a secondary effect, improve its results. The team's experience of an in-series organization was presented for the management of 408 consecutive infertile couples, during 2002. The results obtained during 2002 were compared with those for two previous years. There was a significant increase ( P < 0.01) in the clinical pregnancy rate per oocyte retrieval from 28.9% (2000) and 25.2% (2001) to 41% (2002) in IVF and from 23% (2000) and 26% (2001) to 38.5% (2002) in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A significant increase ( P < 0.01) was also observed in the implantation rate, from 14.8% and 13.4% to 20% in IVF and from 12.1% and 12.9% to 23.5% in ICSI. The higher pregnancy rate was achieved without an increase in the multiple pregnancy rate. In conclusion, recent data support the hypothesis that the use of a quality management system, can, as in this case, have positive repercussions on pregnancy rates.