Assisted reproductive technologies in Canada: 2005 results from the Canadian Assisted Reproductive Technologies Register

Objective: To present a report on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) cycles performed in 2005 in Canada. This is the fifth annual report from the Canadian ART Register (CARTR). Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Twenty-five of 25 ART centers in Canada. Participant(s): Couples undergoing ART treatment in Canada during 2005. Intervention(s): ART treatments, including IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and frozen ET (FET). Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical pregnancy, live birth, and multiple birth rates. Result(s): A total of 11,414 ART cycles was reported to CARTR. In 8195 IVF/ICSI cycles using the women's own oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle started was 32.1% (37.5% per ET procedure), and the live birth rate was 25.6%; the multiple birth rate per delivery was 30.8%, with a triplet birth rate of 1.4%. IVF was performed in 40% of cycles and ICSI in 60% with similar pregnancy rates. One or two embryos were transferred in 68% of cycles; transferring more embryos did not increase the pregnancy rate. In 301 IVF/ICSI cycles using donor oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 46.5%, and the live birth rate was 35.2%; the multiple birth rate was 33.3%, with no triplet birth. In 2498 FET cycles using the woman's own oocytes, the clinical pregnancy rate was 22.8%, and the live birth rate was 17.4%; the multiple birth rate was 24.5%, with a triplet birth rate of 1.6%. Compared with singletons, babies from multiple births had higher risks for preterm birth, low birth weight, and perinatal death. Conclusion(s): For 2005, CARTR achieved 100% voluntary participation from Canadian ART centers for the third consecutive year. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates continued to increase in 2005 compared with previous years. (Fertil Steril (R) 2009;91:1721-30. (C)2009 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)