--- title: "Consumer affordability: access to assisted reproductive tech | Sutter Health" description: "Relative cost that consumers pay for ART treatment predicts the level of access and number of embryos transferred." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/consumer-afford-access-assisted-reproductive-tech-1055312907" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Consumer affordability: access to assisted reproductive tech # The impact of consumer affordability on access to assisted reproductive technologies and embryo transfer practices: an international analysis. Chambers GM, Hoang VP, Sullivan EA, Chapman MG, Ishihara O, Zegers-Hochschild F, Nygren KG, & Adamson GD. _Fertil Steril. 101(1):191-198.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.09.005. Epub 2013 Oct 21._ 2014-01-01 ## Abstract OBJECTIVE: To systematically quantify the impact of consumer cost on assisted reproduction technology (ART) utilization and numbers of embryos transferred. DESIGN: Ordinary least squared (OLS) regression models were constructed to measure the independent impact of ART affordability-measured as consumer cost relative to average disposable income-on ART utilization and embryo transfer practices. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Women undergoing ART treatment. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): OLS regression coefficient for ART affordability, which estimates the independent effect of consumer cost relative to income on utilization and number of embryos transferred. RESULT(S): ART affordability was independently and positively associated with ART utilization with a mean OLS coefficient of 0.032. This indicates that, on average, a decrease in the cost of a cycle of 1 percentage point of disposable income predicts a 3.2% increase in utilization. ART affordability was independently and negatively associated with the number of embryos transferred, indicating that a decrease in the cost of a cycle of 10 percentage points of disposable income predicts a 5.1% increase in single-embryo transfer cycles. CONCLUSION(S): The relative cost that consumers pay for ART treatment predicts the level of access and number of embryos transferred. Policies that affect ART funding should be informed by these findings to ensure equitable access to treatment and clinically responsible embryo transfer practices. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24156958) ## Research topics - [Biostatistics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Biostatistics%5C%22%22) - [Health Disparities](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Disparities%5C%22%22) - [Health Policy](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Policy%5C%22%22) - [Medical Informatics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Medical+Informatics%5C%22%22) - [Obstetrics and Gynecology](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Obstetrics+and+Gynecology%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies World Report: Assisted Reproductive Technology 2006.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/world-report-assisted-reproductive-tech-2006-1055312923) Mansour R, Ishihara O, Adamson GD, Dyer S, de Mouzon J, Nygren KG, Sullivan E, Zegers-Hochschild F. Hum Reprod. 29(7):1536-51. Epub 2014 May 2. 2014 Jul 01 - Publication ### [The long-term effects of Medicaid managed care on obstetrics care in three California counties.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/medicaid-managed-care-obstetrics-ca-counties-1055312574) Tai-Seale M, LoSasso AT, Freund DA, Gerber SE. Health Serv Res. 36(4):751-71. 2001 Aug 01 - Publication ### [The centralization of robotic surgery in high-volume centers for endometrial cancer patients--a study of 6560 cases in the U.S.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/central-robotic-surery-centers-endometrial-cancer-1055312938) Chan JK, Gardner AB, Taylor K, Blansit K, Thompson CA, Brooks R, Yu X, Kapp DS. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Jul;138(1):128-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.04.031. Epub 2015 Apr 28. 2015 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Drive-through delivery: where are the "savings"?](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/drive-through-delivery-savings-1055312640) Tai-Seale M, Rodwin M, Wedig G. Med Care Res Rev. 56(1):30-46. 1999 Mar 01 - Publication ### [Racial disparities in service use among Medicaid beneficiaries after mandatory enrollment in managed care: a difference-in-differences approach.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/race-disparities-medicaid-managed-care-1055312565) Tai-Seale M, Freund D, LoSasso A. Inquiry. 38(1):49-59. 2001 Apr 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/consumer-afford-access-assisted-reproductive-tech-1055312907#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Consumer affordability: access to assisted reproductive tech"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/consumer-afford-access-assisted-reproductive-tech-1055312907#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"The impact of consumer affordability on access to assisted reproductive technologies and embryo transfer practices: an international analysis.","headline":"Consumer affordability: access to assisted reproductive tech","abstract":"OBJECTIVE: To systematically quantify the impact of consumer cost on assisted reproduction technology (ART) utilization and numbers of embryos transferred. DESIGN: Ordinary least squared (OLS) regression models were constructed to measure the independent impact of ART affordability-measured as consumer cost relative to average disposable income-on ART utilization and embryo transfer practices. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Women undergoing ART treatment. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): OLS regression coefficient for ART affordability, which estimates the independent effect of consumer cost relative to income on utilization and number of embryos transferred. RESULT(S): ART affordability was independently and positively associated with ART utilization with a mean OLS coefficient of 0.032. This indicates that, on average, a decrease in the cost of a cycle of 1 percentage point of disposable income predicts a 3.2% increase in utilization. ART affordability was independently and negatively associated with the number of embryos transferred, indicating that a decrease in the cost of a cycle of 10 percentage points of disposable income predicts a 5.1% increase in single-embryo transfer cycles. CONCLUSION(S): The relative cost that consumers pay for ART treatment predicts the level of access and number of embryos transferred. 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