The probability of a successful treatment of infertility by in-vitro fertilization.

The objective of this study was to define several estimates of the success rate of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer treatment in relation to treatment outcome. The data were collected in a retrospective study of 591 patients treated during 3 years in one Belgian university hospital. Several models used for evaluating the treatment of infertility were fitted to the data (logistic model, binomial model, double binomial model, exponential model, the Speirs model. The number of oocytes retrieved and the proportion of fertilized oocytes at the first attempt can be used as prognostic factors. According to these factors, the success rate after five attempts varies from 28 to 88%.