Drop-out of Infertile Couples: a Large Single Center Experience Over 10 Years (dropout)

Istituto Clinico Humanitas

Status: Completed

Conditions: Infertility

Treatments: Other: Drop out patients who had their first access in 2021 were additionally asked to answer to a phone -call questionnaire to assess their motivation of discontinuation

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06344585

DROPOUT

Details and patient eligibility

About

Conducted at a single-center, this prospective-retrospective study focused on all couples who initiated their journey at the Fertility Center of Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy.

The prospective study focused on the couples whose first consultation occurred in 2021. A tailored questionnaire was administered via telephone by staff members to gather insights into the personal reasons for treatment discontinuation among non-returning patients.

Conversely, the retrospective study included all infertile couples initiating treatment between January 2012 and December 2021 at the Fertility Center. Data encompassing personal history and demographic details were extracted from the internal database of Humanitas Fertility Center to assess the factors involved in a treatment discontinuation.

Full description

Background In recent years refinements and improvements in In vitro Fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) techniques have significantly enhanced the efficacy of infertility treatments, offering renewed hope to countless couples struggling with conception. Simultaneously, there has been a notable surge in the number of couples seeking IVF procedures. Studies indicate that, under optimal conditions, approximately 83% of women undergoing IVF treatment could achieve a live birth within eight complete cycles, a rate comparable to natural conception among fertile non-contraceptive users. Despite these encouraging statistics, a significant portion of couples discontinue treatment prematurely.

Objectives The study aims at evaluating the dropout rate among couples following their first access to the Fertility Center. It seeks to elucidate the concept of treatment continuation versus dropout and to identify the determinants influencing these decisions among infertile couples. Additionally, the study aims at investigating the factors contributing to non-return among patients who did not proceed with further treatment.

Materials and methods Conducted at a single-center, this prospective-retrospective study focused on all couples who initiated their journey at the Fertility Center of Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy.

The prospective study focused on the couples whose first consultation occurred in 2021. A tailored questionnaire was administered via telephone by staff members to gather insights into the personal reasons for treatment discontinuation among non-returning patients.

Conversely, the retrospective arm included all infertile couples initiating treatment between January 2012 and December 2021 at the Fertility Center. Data encompassing personal history and demographic details were extracted from the internal database of Humanitas Fertility Center to assess the factors involved in a treatment discontinuation.

Furthermore, all collected data were anonymized and all patients signed an informed consent to use their data for research purposes. A univariate analysis was performed to compare characteristics between returning and non-returning couples.

Enrollment: 24,773 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 46 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• The prospective study focused on patients discontinuing treatment following their initial visit to the Fertility Center of Humanitas Research Hospital, situated in Rozzano (Milan), Italy in 2021. These individuals were contacted by our staff and provided with a specific questionnaire via phone call.
• Conversely, the retrospective arm included all infertile couples initiating treatment between January 2012 and December 2021 at the same Center.

Exclusion criteria

• Excluded from our analysis were women not seeking conception.

Trial design

24,773 participants in 2 patient groups

Drop out

Description:

Women who had their first access from 2012 to 2021 and never returned back

Treatment:

Other: Drop out patients who had their first access in 2021 were additionally asked to answer to a phone -call questionnaire to assess their motivation of discontinuation

Non drop out

Description:

Women who had their first access from 2012 to 2021 and returned back for subsequent treatment