Researchers from The Academic Medical Center in The Netherlands recently reviewed inter-clinic-variations of natural conception in subfertile couples using pooled and cohort data. The review was published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Information was submitted for the study from 38 clinics accounting for 3020 paired couples. After small clinics with less than 20 couples were excluded from the data pool 21 clinics and 2916 paired couples remained. All couples took part in a basic fertility workup at the various clinics.
Conclusion: Differences in natural conception rates were noted between clinics though patient profiles were similar. Researchers could not identify the cause for conception variations. Clinics used a synthesis model to predict the chance of natural conception. There were variances among models, which need to be addressed with model updates, according to researchers.
Source: Tjon-Kon-Fat RI, Lar DN, Steyerberg EW, Broekmans FJ, Hompes P, Mol BW, Steures P, Bossuyt PM, van der Veen F, van der Steeg JW, Eijkemans MJ. Inter-clinic variation in the chances of a natural conception of subfertile couples. Hum Reprod. 2013 Mar 10.
