The first IVF-baby (in-vitro fertilization) was born in England in 1978 and was greeted enthusiastically. But, despite the enormous effort invested, pregnancy rates were disappointingly low. Although in recent years the clinical pregnancy rate has increased worldwide to 15-20% per retrieval, a vast number of people remained unaware of this improvement. To demonstrate and analyze the progress of IVF we evaluated all 196 IVF treatments effected from 1988-1991 at Zürich University Hospital. With an initial clinical pregnancy rate of only 6% per retrieval in 1988, the rate improved to 35% (p < 0.025) in 1991. The crucial factors relating to this improvement were the 1990 introduction of the programmed short-term protocol for ovarian stimulation and reevaluation of the previously used embryo freezing technique.
Conclusion: After a difficult start, IVF has become, if accurately indicated, a method of sterility treatment with a realistic pregnancy and delivery prospect.