The long-term outcome of 946 consecutive couples visiting a fertility clinic in 2001-2003.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcome of fertility work-up, treatment, and dropout in a cohort of subfertile couples in a well-defined area in Western Europe.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Maastricht University Medical Center.

PATIENT(S): Subfertile couples referred by their general physician between 2001 and 2003.

INTERVENTION(S): Demographic data, findings of the fertility investigation, and outcome of treatment were entered prospectively into a database. Follow-up was performed until November 2008.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Diagnosis, treatment, dropout rate, pregnancy rate, and live-birth rate.

RESULT(S): During the study period, 946 couples were referred, of whom 17% dropped out. Follow-up was complete in 94% of couples. Spontaneous pregnancies occurred in 28% of all couples, and there were 32% treatment-dependent pregnancies. IVF (51% live births in couples treated) and no treatment/expectant management (50%) were the most effective treatments.

CONCLUSION(S): After 5-8 years, 51% of couples referred for subfertility had at least one live birth.