Factors influencing the success of in vitro fertilization for alleviating human infertility.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Uncontrolled clinical case series reporting outcomes from an early single-center IVF program.
PubMed 6242159 · doi:10.1007/BF01129615
What was done
The authors describe outcomes from the Bourn Hall in vitro fertilization (IVF) program established in October 1980. Patients with various infertility etiologies underwent either natural cycle monitoring or ovarian stimulation using antiestrogens and gonadotrophins. Follicular maturation was tracked with urinary estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH) measurements, with ovulation triggered by an endogenous LH surge or human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Oocytes were retrieved via laparoscopy and fertilized in vitro, with embryos between the 1- and 8-cell stage transferred to the uterus across variable timing intervals and embryo counts.
What was found
The incidence of implantation following embryo replacement improved over time from an initial 16.5% to 30%. At the time of reporting, more than 118 infants had been born, with additional pregnancies ongoing. Specific statistical breakdowns for maternal age, previous obstetric history, and multi-embryo transfers were evaluated across treatment phases but were not numerically detailed in the abstract.
Why it matters
This report documented foundational early clinical data on human IVF protocols and success rates from the pioneering Bourn Hall clinic, establishing baseline implantation parameters for assisted reproduction.
Limits
The abstract does not provide the total number of enrolled patients or treatment cycles, nor does it give specific numerical data for clinical sub-analyses (such as maternal age or number of embryos transferred). Protocols were observational, non-standardized, and evolving over time without a control group.
Cited by
- supports In the earliest IVF procedures, oocyte retrieval required an abdominal surgical incision to aspirate the single follicle rather than transvaginal ultrasound-guided retrieval.