Why Subfertile Couples Drop Out (Drop Out Trial); a Prospective Survey in the Netherlands.

Rationale Although fertility success rates are rising due to improved techniques and patients are usually highly motivated at their first visit of the clinic, dropout rates are high. Research has shown that fertility treatment is a cause for physical, psychological and economic burden.

Objective The aim of this study is to examine the rate of patient drop out during any type of subfertility work up or treatment. Furthermore, the investigators want to determine what the reasons for discontinuation are and to identify the demographic characteristics of these couples and the prognostic factors for drop out during assessment or treatment at a fertility clinic.

Study design Prospective cohort study at the fertility centres of Isala (Zwolle - The Netherlands), Erasmus University Centre (Rotterdam- The Netherlands), Elisabeth Twee Steden Hospital (Tilburg - The Netherlands), Reinier de Graaf Group (Voorburg - The Netherlands), St Antonius Hospital (Nieuwegein - The Netherlands), Maxima Medical Centre (Veldhoven - The Netherlands) and Noordwest Hospital Group (Den Helder/Alkmaar - The Netherlands).

Study population Every couple that undergoes any type of work up or treatment for subfertility problems and that has not visited any other clinic yet.

Methods Patient records of included couples will be studied and included patients will be asked to fill in a validated questionnaire after evaluations during work up or treatment. The data from both will be put in a database and analysed.