Somigliana E, Bertoli M, Caputo A, Reschini M, Bardiani I, Bruno GM, Di Matteo S, Colombo GL. Wastage of gonadotropins during IVF cycles: Real life data from two Italian infertility centers.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021;
267:56-60. [PMID:
34715508 DOI:
10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.10.013]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Gonadotropins represent an important component of IVF costs. In order to reduce costs, much attention was given to the type of gonadotropins (recombinant versus urinary) and the daily dose. In this study, we decided to focus on gonadotropin wastage, a neglected aspect that may harbor a relevant source of useless economic expenditure.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Women who performed oocytes collection following ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotropins in two Italian IVF Centers were prospectively recruited. They were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire aimed at capturing drug wastage. Physicians of the participating units were blinded to the study. Recruited women were requested to hide their participation to their physicians.
RESULTS
Three-hundred nine women were recruited. Two hundred eighty-eight (93 %; 95 %CI: 90-96 %) reported to have wasted some drug. For the whole cohort, the median [Interquartile range] IUs of drug used and drug wasted was 2,100 [1,575 - 2,850] and 825 [400 - 1,200], respectively. This corresponds to a median increase in the costs of ovarian hyperstimulation of 39 %. When data on wastage was analyzed separately for the different available drugs, a statistically significant difference emerged (p = 0.026). Reasons behind this difference could not be clearly disentangled.
CONCLUSIONS
IVF is associated with a considerable wastage of gonadotropins. Improving this aspect can allow to reduce the costs of the procedure.
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