This is one of a series of news items from abstracts of studies presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as complied by Dr. David Meldrum, Scientific Director of Reproductive Partners. We appreciate the enormous amount of work it takes to compile and comment on these abstracts.
Women over 38 with at least 6 months of infertility and a normal work up (unexplained in fertility) were randomized to clomiphene with IUI, injectables with IUI or immediate IVF. After two cycles, per cycle pregnancy rates were 6.7, 7.7, and 24.7%.
It's expected that there would be a higher pregnancy rate with immediate IVF. This is not "one size fits all." The length of infertility should determine the appropriate starting treatment. For instance for someone trying for only 6 months, immediate IVF is too aggressive. For someone trying for two years it may be appropriate.