Assisted reproductive medicine in Poland, 2013-2016: Polish Society of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology (PTMRiE) and Fertility and Sterility Special Interest Group of the Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (SPiN PTGiP) report

Objectives: The purpose of this publication is to present data on the results and complications associated with infertility treatment using assisted reproductive technology (ART) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) in Poland between 2013 and 2016. Material and methods: The report was prepared by the Polish Society of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology (PTMRiE) and the Fertility and Sterility Special Interest Group of the Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetrics (SPiN PTGiP) as a part of the European IVF Monitoring program (EIM) for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Reporting was voluntary and the data was not subject to external control. The report presents the availability and structure of infertility treatment services, the number of procedures, their effectiveness and complications. Results: Between 2013 and 2016, a total of 106,718 treatment cycles using ART [64,413 classical in vitro fertilization and in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF + ICSI), 36,041 frozen embryo replacements (FER)] and 51,405 IUI were recorded. The clinical pregnancy rates per embryo transfer in IVF, ICSI and FER were 38.3%, 38.1% and 32.4%, respectively. The effectiveness of IUI with husband/partner's semen (IUI-H) was 11.1% and with donor semen (IUI-D) 16.7%. Multiple delivery rates were 11.3% and 6.2% in IVF + ICSI and IUI, respectively. The most common complication was the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) (0.34%). Conclusions: PTMRiE and SPiN PTGiP report is the only national study documenting Polish reproductive medicine. The results of infertility treatment effectiveness in Poland are comparable with the European data, complications are less frequent than in other countries. The low percentage of multiple pregnancies, and so perinatal complications, is especially valuable. However, due to the lack of a central database and register, the possibility of external control and monitoring of pregnancies and births is limited. Thus, a fully reliable assessment of the treatment quality in our country is not possible.

Automated summary

This study presents data on infertility treatment using ART and IUI in Poland between 2013 and 2016, including treatment cycle numbers, clinical pregnancy rates, and major complications. The effectiveness of infertility treatment in Poland is comparable to European data, with lower complication rates.