Why we should talk about compliance with assisted reproductive technologies (ART): a systematic review and meta-analysis of ART compliance rates

BACKGROUND: The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the rate of compliance with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and examine its relationship with treatment success rates. METHODS: Six databases were systematically searched from 1978 to December 2011. Studies were included if they reported data on patient progression through three consecutive standard ART cycles. Compliance was estimated for the first three ART cycles (typical ART Regimen Compliance, TARC) and after the first and the second failed cycles (CAF1, CAF2). Treatment success rates for all patients who started ART and for those who fully complied with the three ART cycles were estimated. RESULTS: Ten studies with data for 14 810 patients were included. TARC was 78.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 68.8–85.3%], CAF1 was 81.8% (73.3–88.1%) and CAF2 was 75.3% (68.2–81.2%). The overall success rate was 42.7% (32.6–53.6%) for all patients starting ART and 57.9% (49.4–65.9%) for those who complied with three ART cycles. Compliance rates did not vary according to study quality, but TARC was higher for studies that reported data on doctor-censored patients versus those that did not (84.2% 95% CI 75.5–90.2 versus 70.6% 95% CI 58.3–80.5, P = 0.043). Analysis of funnel plots and the Egger test indicated publication bias for CAF1. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this meta-analysis should reassure clinics and patients that most patients are able to comply with three cycles of ART. Compliers could increase their chances of success by as much as 15%. A more detailed assessment of compliance requires monitoring long-term treatment trajectories through the creation of national registries.