IVF add-on treatments lack evidence: study

Study: Most IVF add-on treatments lack evidence of benefit

6 reported

A comprehensive review published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health journal has found that most IVF “add-on” treatments offered to patients show no effect on fertility or remain unproven due to limited or low-quality data. The study, described as the largest of its kind, analyzed 85 high-quality trials after excluding 72 others on trustworthiness grounds. Researchers examined 10 common IVF add-ons and found no effect or inconclusive results for seven, including acupuncture, corticosteroids, and pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy. Weak evidence of possible benefit was found for three add-ons: EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratching, and physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI). Lead author Dr. Sarah Lensen of the University of Melbourne stated that unproven add-ons can lead to false hope, greater financial strain, and unnecessary medical procedures. The review noted that more than 70% of IVF patients in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand pay for one or more add-on during treatment.

What’s reported

The study is the largest of its kind and was published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health journal.

Of 157 potentially eligible trials, 72 were excluded on trustworthiness grounds; data from the remaining 85 trials were pooled.

Seven IVF add-ons showed no effect on fertility or inconclusive results: acupuncture, corticosteroids, endometrial receptivity testing, intralipid infusion, intraovarian injection of platelet-rich plasma, intrauterine infusion of platelet-rich plasma, and pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy.

Three add-ons showed weak evidence of possible benefit: EmbryoGlue (may increase pregnancy and live birth probability, but effect on live birthrates not robust), endometrial scratching (may increase pregnancy and live birth probability), and PICSI (weak evidence it may lower miscarriage risk).

More than 70% of IVF patients in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand pay for one or more add-on during treatment.

Dr. Sarah Lensen of the University of Melbourne said unproven add-ons can lead to false hope, greater financial strain, and unnecessary medical procedures.