In vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy rates have been steadily rising in the US over the past few years, a stark contrast to European nations where dwindling success rates for this infertility treatment are believed to be a result of government bureaucracy.

 

According to a statement released by the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) in New York City yesterday, the chances of women in the United States delivering a baby as a result of IVF infertility treatments is approximately 40.7%. However, for women in Europe receiving the same treatment, the birth rate is only a mere 26.6%.

 

This startling contrast has many experts wondering why such disparities could exist among nations which have equal access to available reproductive technology.

 

CHR’s founder Dr. Norbert Gleicher speculates that this is likely the direct result of European government policies which restrict the number of embryos which can be transferred during an IVF treatment cycle.

 

“A part of the reason is the recent propagation of single-embryo transfer (sET) in Europe,” explains Dr. Gleicher. “In Europe, fertility experts and governments alike consider the reduced risk of multiple pregnancies through sET a good enough reason to offset lower pregnancy chances caused by sET. Thus, many European countries mandate sET despite irrefutable evidence that patients value nothing more than better chances of pregnancy in choosing their infertility treatments.”

 

Single-embryo transfer policies were put in place with the hope of answering the question of how to prevent miscarriages among other fetal and maternal complications which come as a result of multiple pregnancies. However, according to Dr. Gleicher, these policies infringe upon individual rights, increase costs to patients, and reduce the chances of infertile couples achieving success with IVF treatments.

 

“If there is a lesson to be learned here,” says Dr. Gleicher, “it is that IVF pregnancy rates in the U.S. will continue to improve, as long as IVF research and clinical care remain largely unaffected by government interference, and primarily driven by success in the marketplace, as they have over the last few decades.”