Most in-vitro fertilization (IVF) add-on treatments have little to no evidence of benefit.Many patients rely on social media and IVF clinic websites for information about them, which may be overhyped.Better information for patients, and trials of benefits and harms of add-ons are needed.
Many popular in-vitro fertilization (IVF) add-ons have little proven benefit, but an evidence-based website helped patients better understand the treatments so they could make an informed decision, a pair of companion studies found.
In a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), most IVF add-ons had limited or uncertain benefit for patients and much of the evidence was low quality, according to Sarah Lensen, PhD, of Royal Women's Hospital and the University of Melbourne in Australia, and colleagues.
And in a parallel-group, single-blinded, randomized trial, patients showed a higher understanding of IVF add-ons after viewing a novel evidence-based website co-designed by patients and clinicians to support informed decision making compared with control content generated from the internet, Lensen and colleagues reported.
Both papers were published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health.
