Barriers to treatment of infertility by in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

A survey was made of 121 patients who withdrew from an in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programme, and the reasons leading to withdrawal were solicited by a questionnaire. The most common reasons stated by the 91 patients who returned the survey questionnaires were the heavy financial burden and psychosocial stresses that accompanied treatment. Seventy per cent of these patients expressed a desire to re-enter the programme at a later date.