Toward a more meaningful in vitro fertilization success rate

Purpose: The objective was to explore the variability in in vitro fertiliza tion (IVF) success rates. Methods: Published success rates from NF clinics in North America were inve stigated to establish types of biases and potential inaccuracies. Results: Success rates reported by NF clinics vary with regard to the indic es and patient populations used to compute them. Selection bias and misunde rstood statistics are major factors contributing to the inappropriateness o f certain rates. Conclusions: The influence of privatization and market forces also may cont ribute to the need to oversimplify NF statistics.