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Ali Nasseri, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director, Dehan Chen, M.D., and Lewis Krey, Ph.D., Director of the Embryology Laboratory, are pleased to report the 2006 results for in vitro fertilization cycles performed at the new Valley Hospital Fertility Center (VHFC) at the Robert and Audrey Luckow Pavilion. This facility, which includes a state-of-the-art embryology laboratory, opened in March, 2006. VHFC completed two IVF series and the outcomes of the completed cycles are listed below:
2006 PREGNANCY RATES
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AGE OF WOMAN
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FRESH EMBRYOS FROM NON-DONOR EGGS
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< 35
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35-37
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38-40
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41-42
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>42
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All Ages
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Number of Treatment Cycles Started
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63
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45
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32
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18
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13
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171
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Number of Egg Retrievals
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60
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39
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20
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14
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5
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138
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Clinical Pregnancy Rate Per Egg Retrieval
(Intrauterine Sac + Fetal Heartbeat Activity)
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63
(38/60)
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46
( 18/39 )
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45
(9/20 )
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43
(6/14 )
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20
(1/5)
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52
(72/138)
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Percent of Retrievals Resulting in Live Births
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57
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41
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45
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36
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0
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46
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Average Number of Embryos Per Transfer
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2.2
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2.5
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2.8
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3.1
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3.4
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2.5
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The VHFC statistics are presented in the age-related format that is used by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) to analyze and report the annual statistics of IVF clinics in the US (www.sart.com). VHFC has registered with SART and its 2006 results, including live birth outcomes, will be reported and published by the CDC and SART in 2008.
One must be cautious and consider several factors when reviewing IVF statistics. The CDC and SART utilize clinical pregnancy and birth outcome information in their reports. Since VHFC is new, the birth outcome data for cycles completed in 2006 will only become available in late 2007. Comparing success rates between VHFC and other IVF clinics in a meaningful fashion is difficult for many other reasons, including variations in the medical characteristics of the patients and each clinic’s treatment protocols. In addition, some clinics may advertise rates for pregnancies that are only defined by a positive hCG test or the presence of an intrauterine sac. In the VHFC rates, a clinical pregnancy is defined by the presence of an intrauterine sac containing a fetus with heartbeat activity, an early pregnancy outcome that closely correlates with a successful live birth.
It is noteworthy that the VHFC outcomes are consistent with the results of VHFC patients who received their embryology services at New York University Fertility Center (NYUFC) in 2005. These results indicate that the clinical and laboratory staffs at VHFC have successfully established high levels of quality and consistency for infertility care at the Robert and Audrey Luckow Pavilion.
For more information or to contact the Valley Hospital Fertility Center or a Reproductive Endocrinologist at the Center, please call (201) 634-5400.
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