Registers of in-vitro fertilization and assisted conception

Many countries now have registers of assisted conception that were initially set up to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, to monitor pregnancy outcomes and the health of treated women, and to assess any immediate risks for the women and their children. World reports, based on information from national registers, have enabled international comparisons of the extent to which the various techniques of assisted conception are used to treat infertile couples, as well as comparisons of pregnancy outcome. The reports also provide comparative data on pregnancy rates in populations rather than in single in-vitro fertilization (IVF) centres. To determine whether newly introduced techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection are associated with any increased risks of birth defects or other adverse outcomes, information notified to registers will often need to be supplemented by clinical reports or by linkage of data in IVF registers and other health data systems. Further efforts to improve the quality of information on assisted conception within each country and internationally need to be well supported so that the effectiveness of treatment and the outcomes of treated couples and their children can be evaluated properly.