The BMJ's video: Predicting the chances of having a baby after multiple rounds of IVF

Read the open access research: http://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i5735 In the United Kingdom, one in six couples experience difficulties conceiving. By the end of 2013 over five million people were born as a result of IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Although the success of IVF and ICSI has conventionally been reported as the livebirth rate in a single fresh cycle, widespread use of embryo cryopreservation in the past two decades has meant that cumulative livebirth rates, which include frozen embryo replacements as well as subsequent treatment episodes, are more informative, as they empower couples and clinicians to make strategic decisions about care over a period of time. Given that many other patient and treatment characteristics can affect the success of IVF or ICSI, it can be difficult for clinicians to counsel couples as to their individualised chances of success over a complete package of IVF or ICSI treatment. The authors of this study set out to develop a prediction model to estimate the chances of a live birth over multiple complete cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) based on a couple’s specific characteristics and treatment information.