PHARMACOECONOMICS

IVF - how much more does it cost?

Ovulation induction with menotropins, followed by intrauterine insemination, was as effective as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and cost much less, in a US study.

The mean cost associated with an induced cycle was $US 1198, compared with $6003/IVF cycle. Even 4 cycles of ovulation induction cost significantly less than 1 IVF cycle. On a per pregnancy basis, IVF costs $22 811 compared with $7907 for ovulation induction. However, the authors point out that advances in IVF technology since the time of writing this paper may be leading to improvements in IVF pregnancy rates which could alter the conclusions of this study.

13 live births resulted from 99 ovulation induction cycles with intrauterine insemination, a cumulative rate of 28% amongst the 47 patients who chose this method. 19 patients opted for IVF and 4 births resulted; a cumulative rate of 21 %.

For comparison, a control group of 21 patients with infertility problems did not undergo treatment but were monitored throughout the study. Three pregnancies occurred during 210 cycles in these 21 patients; a cumulative rate of 14%.

Peterson eM. Poulson Jr AM. Halasaka HH, et aI. Ovulation induction with gonadotropins and intrauterine insemination compared with in vitro fertilization and no therapy: a prospective. nonrandomizcd, cohort study and meta-analysis.

Fenility and Sterility 62: 535-544, Sep 1994 000""10"

0156-2703l9410956-0007/$01.0rf' Adislnternational Limited 1994. All rights reserved

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INPHARMA'" 24 Sep 1994