Science / Medicine : Test-Tube Conception Rate Low

No more than 20% of infertile couples trying to conceive through in vitro (test tube) fertilization ultimately succeed, one of the world’s leading specialists in the field said last week. Douglas Saunders of the University of Sydney told the World Congress on In Vitro Fertilization and Assisted Procreation that his findings were based on a worldwide report from 469 centers in 24 countries.

Physicians at the conference also heard reports saying that about a fourth of the in vitro pregnancies end in miscarriages in the first trimester, and that in vitro newborns have a higher rate of neonatal death and are more likely to suffer from low birth weight.

George Jones, from the Eastern Virginia School of Medicine, said a host of factors affect success rates, including the age of the women and how well they respond to fertility drugs.