Table 2 Assessment of available evidence: number of included systematic reviews and primary studies and GRADE rating of quality of evidence for predefined comparisons and outcomes of interest
Outcome of interest | Spontaneous conception (17 reviews; no additional primary studies) | Less invasive ARTs – OI/IUI (2 reviews; no additional primary studies) | Number of embryos (6 reviews; no additional primary studies) | State of embryos – fresh/frozen (5 reviews; no additional primary studies) | Stage of embryos – blastocyst/cleavage (5 reviews; 2 additional primary studies) | Source of embryos – autologous/donor 1 review; 1 additional primary study) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Effectiveness: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
• Cycle success (cancellation, implantation) | * | * | 2 reviews | * | 2 reviews | * |
| Â | Â | Low to Moderate | Â | Moderate | Â | |
• Pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth | 1 review | 1 review | 6 reviews | 2 reviews | 2 reviews | 1 primary study |
Moderate | Moderate | Low to Moderate | Low to Moderate | Moderate | Low | |
• Multiple pregnancy/birth | * | 1 review | 3 reviews | * | 2 reviews | * |
| Â | Moderate | Low to Moderate | Â | Moderate | Â | |
Safety: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
• Pregnancy and delivery complications | 5 reviews | 1 review | 3 reviews | 5 reviews | 2 primary studies | 1 review |
Very Low to Low | Very Low to Moderate | Low to Moderate | Very Low to Moderate | Low | Low to Very Low | |
• neonatal/infant complications | 15 reviews | * | 2 reviews | 3 reviews | 2 primary studies | 1 review |
Very Low to Low | Â | Low to Moderate | Low to Moderate | Low | Low to Very Low |