IVF births and pregnancies: An exploration of two methods of assessment using life-table analysis

Purpose: Our purpose was to explore two methods of expressing expressing th e performance of IVF programs. Methods: Using life-table methods, hazard and cure rates and a "monthly fec undability rate" were calculated for an Ontario NF clinic. The rates were e valuated for their meaningfulness as indicators of the clinic's performance . Results and Conclusions: While the hazard rate describes monthly fertility among those who will eventually become pregnant, the fecundability rate des cribes fertility for all patients who enter the program, making it the more appropriate index for program comparisons. However, from a prospective pat ient's perspective, both methods are valid indices for summarizing a progra m's performance.