More than 1.15 million assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment cycles were reported across Europe in 2023, according to preliminary data presented by the European In vitro Fertilization Monitoring (EIM) Consortium at the 42nd European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Annual Meeting.
Latest data collected from 1,473 fertility centers in 36 European countries shows that in 2023, 1,156,316 cycles of ART treatment were reported and 247,021 children were born.
Since 1997, the European In Vitro Fertilization Monitoring (EIM) Consortium has recorded over 15.8 million ART treatment cycles and over 3.27 million ART infants across Europe, creating one of the longest-running datasets on assisted reproductive technology in Europe. Taken together, these data provide a unique overview of how clinical practice and treatment outcomes have evolved over time.
One of the clearest trends in 2023 was the continued increase in frozen embryo transfers (FET). A total of 401,483 FET cycles were reported, compared to 158,649 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and 388,345 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Among IVF, ICSI, and FET-based treatments, FET will account for almost 43% of treatment cycles in 2023, highlighting the importance of embryo cryopreservation in daily clinical practice.
Pregnancy and birth rates remained generally stable. The live birth rate per embryo transfer was 24.4% for IVF, 23.5% for microinsemination, and 27.6% for FET, whereas the live birth rate per aspiration or thawing was 18.9%, 17.2%, and 24.7%, respectively. Actual changes are best reflected in the crude cumulative birth rate, which increases each year.
During the same period, clinics continued to reduce the number of embryos transferred during treatment. This reflects the lowest twin and triplet birth rates recorded since European surveillance began, reflecting efforts to reduce multiple pregnancies while maintaining good treatment outcomes.
The EIM consortium provides an unparalleled overview of assisted reproductive technology across Europe. The latest data show not only that ART continues to be highly utilized, but also that clinical practice continues to evolve. The increase in frozen embryo transfers and continued decline in multiple embryo transfers reflects continued efforts to improve both efficacy and safety for patients. ”
Professor Diane De Neubourg, Chair of the EIM Consortium
Reported complication rates remained low in 2023. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurred in 1,760 treatment cycles (0.18%), whereas bleeding was reported in 965 cycles (0.10%) and infection in 218 cycles (0.02%). Four maternal deaths were reported. However, the consortium notes that these complications may be underreported.
Preliminary data also includes more than 32,000 fertility preservation procedures reported in 2023, although reporting in this area is still incomplete. Countries with complete reporting report an average of 2,547 ART treatment cycles per million population, significantly exceeding the estimated global need of at least 1,500 cycles per million population each year.
Looking ahead, ESHRE is promoting the European Medically Assisted Reproductive Monitoring (EuMAR), a pan-European registry developed to collect prospective cycle-by-cycle data on medically assisted reproduction and outcomes across Europe. Following the success of the pilot study, EuMAR is now transitioning to a permanent data collection program at ESHRE.
Professor Anis Feki, Chair of ESHRE, said: “Reliable and collaborative data collection remains essential to advances in reproductive health. The EIM Registry will enable clinics, researchers and policy makers to monitor long-term trends in treatment and outcomes, and will Evidence-based improvements in patient care across the country will be supported. As we look to the future, the development of the EuMAR registry will provide further detailed and forward-looking information to guide the future of medically assisted reproduction.”
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European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
