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Ben Messaoud K, Bouyer J, Guibert J, de La Rochebrochard E. The burden of very early dropout in infertility care: a nationwide population-based cohort study. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:102-107. [PMID: 37898958 PMCID: PMC10767936 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What is the frequency and the associated factors of very early dropout following unsuccessful clomiphene citrate (CC)/gonadotropin treatment in the context of full coverage of treatment cost. SUMMARY ANSWER Despite free treatment, almost one in four women had a very early dropout following unsuccessful CC/gonadotropin treatment, with patients below the poverty line being more likely to drop out early. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Success of infertility care is tarnished by very high dropout rates. Infertility care dropout has been considered as resulting principally from financial barriers because of the high cost of treatment. Nearly all previous work addressed dropout following IVF/ICSI. Factors associated with dropout following CC/gonadotropins may be different and also need to be investigated. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Nationwide population-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Using the French national health insurance and hospital databases, we included in the cohort 27 416 women aged 18-49 years unsuccessfully treated with CC/gonadotropins in 2017. The main outcome was very early dropout, defined as discontinuation of all infertility treatment after unsuccessful treatment for 1-3 months. Very early treatment dropout was analysed by multivariate logistic regression. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Among women unsuccessfully treated with CC/gonadotropins, 22% dropped out of infertility care within 3 months. In multivariate analysis, higher early dropout following unsuccessful CC/gonadotropin treatment was associated with older and younger ages (≥35 and <25 years), being below the poverty line, being treated with CC prescribed by a general practitioner and lack of infertility tests or monitoring. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is based on health administrative data that do not include reasons for dropout and record only a limited amount of information. It is thus not possible to analyse the reason for early dropout. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Despite full coverage of all infertility treatment, women under the poverty line have a higher risk of very early dropout following unsuccessful CC/gonadotropin treatment. Better understanding is needed of the non-financial barriers and difficulties faced by these patients. To address disparities in infertility treatment, practitioner training could be reinforced to adapt to patients from different social and cultural backgrounds. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the ANR StimHo project, grant ANR-17-CE36-0011-01 from the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques, Ined, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit—UR14, Aubervilliers, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif, France
| | - Jean Bouyer
- Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques, Ined, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit—UR14, Aubervilliers, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif, France
| | - Juliette Guibert
- Centre Médico-Chirurgical de la Baie de Morlaix, rond-point de la Vierge Noire, Morlaix, France
| | - Elise de La Rochebrochard
- Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques, Ined, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit—UR14, Aubervilliers, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif, France
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Messaoud KB, Guibert J, Bouyer J, de La Rochebrochard E. Strong social disparities in access to IVF/ICSI despite free cost of treatment: a French population-based nationwide cohort study. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:621. [PMID: 37993813 PMCID: PMC10664362 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02784-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to IVF/ICSI is facilitated when the financial barrier is removed. In a national context where in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm Injection (ICSI) treatment is cost-free, how many women do not access IVF/ICSI and what are the factors associated with non-access? METHODS Using French national health insurance databases, the cohort included 20,240 women aged 18-43 years living in France who underwent unsuccessful treatment (no pregnancy) with clomiphene citrate (CC) and/or gonadotropins with treatment started between January and August 2016. The outcome measure was non-access to IVF/ICSI during the 24-month following start of infertility care. Factors associated with non-access to IVF/ICSI were explored using mixed effects logistic regression. RESULTS In the cohort, 65.4% of women did not access IVF/ICSI. In multivariable analysis, non-access to IVF/ICSI was higher in younger women (18-25 years: (OR 2.17, 95% CI: 1.85-2.54) and in older women (40-43 years: (OR=3.60, 95% CI: 3.25-3.98)). Non-access was higher among women below the poverty line (OR=3.76, 95% CI: 3.34-4.23) and showed a significant upward trend with increasing deprivation of place of residence. Distance to the nearest fertility centre was not significantly associated with non-access to IVF/ICSI. CONCLUSIONS In a national context of cost-free ART treatment, a large proportion of women did not access treatment, with a strong social gradient that raises important issues. We need to understand the underlying social mechanisms to develop an efficient and equitable health policy regarding infertility care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques (Ined), UR14 - Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, 93300, Aubervilliers, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, 94807, Villejuif, France.
| | - Juliette Guibert
- Centre Médico-Chirurgical de La Baie de Morlaix, Rond-Point de La Vierge Noire, 29600, Morlaix, France
| | - Jean Bouyer
- Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques (Ined), UR14 - Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, 93300, Aubervilliers, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, 94807, Villejuif, France
| | - Elise de La Rochebrochard
- Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques (Ined), UR14 - Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, 93300, Aubervilliers, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, 94807, Villejuif, France
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Ben Messaoud K, Schroter S, Richards M, Gayet-Ageron A. Authors' reply to Xu. BMJ 2023; 382:p1657. [PMID: 37468147 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University of Geneva, School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sara Schroter
- The BMJ, London, UK
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Ben Messaoud K, Schroter S, Richards M, Gayet-Ageron A. Analysis of peer reviewers' response to invitations by gender and geographical region: cohort study of manuscripts reviewed at 21 biomedical journals before and during covid-19 pandemic. BMJ 2023; 381:e075719. [PMID: 37311585 PMCID: PMC10471900 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-075719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe gender and geographical inequalities in invitations to review and the response to these invitations and to assess whether inequalities increased during the covid-19 pandemic. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING 19 specialist medical journals and two large general medical journals from BMJ Publishing Group. POPULATION Reviewers invited to review manuscripts submitted between 1 January 2018 and 31 May 2021. The cohort was followed up to 28 February 2022. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reviewer's agreement to review. RESULTS A total of 257 025 reviewers were invited (38.6% (88 454/228 869) women), and 90 467 (35.2%) agreed to review. Invited reviewers were mainly (217 682; 84.7%) affiliated with high income countries: Europe (122 414; 47.6%), North America (66 931; 26.0%), Africa (25 735; 10.0%), Asia (22 693; 8.8%), Oceania (16 175; 6.3%), and South America (3076; 1.2%). Independent factors associated with agreement to review were gender (odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.87 to 0.92, for women compared with men), geographical affiliation (2.89, 2.73 to 3.06, for Asia; 3.32, 2.94 to 3.75 for South America; 1.35, 1.27 to 1.43, for Oceania; and 0.35, 0.33 to 0.37, for Africa compared with Europe), and country income (0.47, 0.45 to 0.49, for upper middle income; 5.12, 4.67 to 5.61, for lower middle income; and 4.66, 3.79 to 5.73, for low income compared with high income country). Agreement was also independently associated with editor's gender (0.96, 0.93 to 0.99, for women compared with men), last author's geographical affiliation (0.80, 0.78 to 0.83, for Asia; 0.89, 0.85 to 0.94, for Oceania compared with Europe), impact factor (1.78, 1.27 to 2.50, for >10 compared with <5), and type of peer review process (0.52, 0.35 to 0.77, for open compared with anonymised). During the first and second phases of the pandemic, agreement was lower than in the pre-pandemic period (P<0.001). The interaction between time periods and covid-19 related topic and reviewer's gender was non-significant. However, significant interaction was found between time periods and covid-19 related topic and reviewer's geographical affiliation. CONCLUSIONS To reduce bias and improve diversity, editors need to identify and implement effective strategies and continually evaluate progress against these to ensure that more women and researchers from upper middle income and low income countries are involved in review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University of Geneva, School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sara Schroter
- BMJ, London, UK
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Angèle Gayet-Ageron
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University of Geneva, School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
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Ben Messaoud K. Unveiling hidden inequalities in diversity and inclusion in medical research. BMJ 2023; 381:p1354. [PMID: 37311574 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University of Geneva, School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
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Gayet-Ageron A, Ben Messaoud K, Richards M, Schroter S. Female authorship of covid-19 research in manuscripts submitted to 11 biomedical journals: cross sectional study. BMJ 2021; 375:n2288. [PMID: 34615650 PMCID: PMC8493599 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n2288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe prominent authorship positions held by women and the overall percentage of women co-authoring manuscripts submitted during the covid-19 pandemic compared with the previous two years. DESIGN Cross sectional study. SETTING Nine specialist and two large general medical journals. POPULATION Authors of research manuscripts submitted between 1 January 2018 and 31 May 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome: first author's gender. SECONDARY OUTCOMES last and corresponding authors' gender; number (percentage) of women on authorship byline in "pre-pandemic" period (1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019) and in "covid-19" and "non-covid-19" manuscripts during pandemic. RESULTS A total of 63 259 manuscripts were included. The number of female first, last, and corresponding authors respectively were 1313 (37.1%), 996 (27.9%), and 1119 (31.1%) for covid-19 manuscripts (lowest values in Jan-May 2020: 230 (29.4%), 165 (21.1%), and 185 (22.9%)), compared with 8583 (44.9%), 6118 (31.2%), and 7273 (37.3%) for pandemic non-covid-19 manuscripts and 12 724 (46.0%), 8923 (31.4%), and 10 981 (38.9%) for pre-pandemic manuscripts. The adjusted odds ratio of having a female first author in covid-19 manuscripts was <1.00 in all groups (P<0.001) compared with pre-pandemic (lowest in Jan-May 2020: 0.55, 98.75% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.70). The adjusted odds ratio of having a woman as last or corresponding author was significantly lower for covid-19 manuscripts in all time periods (except for the two most recent periods for last author) compared with pre-pandemic (lowest values in Jan-May 2020: 0.74 (0.57 to 0.97) for last and 0.61 (0.49 to 0.77) for corresponding author). The odds ratios for pandemic non-covid-19 manuscripts were not significantly different compared with pre-pandemic manuscripts. The median percentage of female authors on the byline was lower for covid-19 manuscripts (28.6% in Jan-May 2020) compared with pre-pandemic (36.4%) and non-covid-19 pandemic manuscripts (33.3% in Jan-May 2020). Gender disparities in all prominent authorship positions and the proportion of women authors on the byline narrowed in the most recent period (Feb-May 2021) compared with the early pandemic period (Jan-May 2020) and were very similar to values observed for pre-pandemic manuscripts. CONCLUSIONS Women have been underrepresented as co-authors and in prominent authorship positions in covid-19 research, and this gender disparity needs to be corrected by those involved in academic promotion and awarding of research grants. Women attained some prominent authorship positions equally or more frequently than before the pandemic on non-covid-19 related manuscripts submitted at some time points during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angèle Gayet-Ageron
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Health and Community Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Contributed equally
| | - Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Department of Health and Community Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Contributed equally
| | - Mark Richards
- Article Transfer Service, BMJ Publishing Group, London, UK
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Messaoud KB. 577Inequalities in access to in vitro fertilisation treatment in France. Int J Epidemiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is one of the most expensive infertility treatments. Cost has been described as a substantial barrier to access. In France all infertility treatments, including IVF, are fully reimbursed, but are there other barriers to access?
Methods
Based on the French national health insurance database that exhaustively records reimbursed healthcare, this cohort study included all women aged 18–49 years unsuccessfully treated with ovarian induction (first-line infertility treatment) between January–August 2016. Outcome was IVF access within 24 months of starting first-line treatment. Univariate and multivariate regressions explored age, disadvantaged social status, driving time to nearest IVF centre, and deprivation index of area of residence.
Results
Over 20,000 women unsuccessfully received first-line treatment. Almost 80% did not access IVF within 24 months.
After age 34, probability of access decreased. Disadvantaged social status and living in a disadvantaged area were associated with lower probability of accessing IVF. Driving time to the nearest IVF centre was not significantly associated with access.
Conclusions
Socio-economic barriers to access IVF exist despite full treatment reimbursement in France. To reduce health inequalities, we need to better understand the nature and patterns of these barriers among less socially advantaged people.
Key messages
After failure of first-line infertility treatment, only 20% of women access IVF although it is fully reimbursed in France.
Age, but most importantly socio-economic status, is a key determinant of access to IVF treatment.
Distance from nearest IVF centre does not appear significant in explaining access to treatment in France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques, Ined, Aubervilliers, France
- University Paris-Saclay, Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif, France
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Ben Messaoud K, Bouyer J, de La Rochebrochard E. Infertility Treatment in France, 2008-2017: A Challenge of Growing Treatment Needs at Older Ages. Am J Public Health 2020; 110:1418-1420. [PMID: 32673116 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To measure trends in infertility treatment use between 2008 and 2017 in France using data from the national health insurance system.Methods. Between 2008 and 2017, we observed a representative national sample of nearly 1% of all women aged 20 to 49 years who were affiliated with the main health insurance scheme in France (more than 100 000 women observed each year). We exhaustively recorded all health care reimbursed to these women.Results. Among women aged 20 to 49 years, 1.25% were treated for infertility each year. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant interaction between age and year of treatment use (P < .001). Over the decade, infertility treatment use increased by 23.9% among women aged 34 years or older, whereas among women younger than 34 years there was a nonsignificant variation.Conclusions. Women aged 34 years or older were increasingly treated for infertility between 2008 and 2017.Public Health Implications. Treatment efficiency decreases strongly with a woman's age, presenting a challenge for medical infertility care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud is a PhD candidate with and Jean Bouyer and Elise de La Rochebrochard are with the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, Institut national d'etudes démographiques, Aubervilliers, France, and Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université Paris-Saclay, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Jean Bouyer
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud is a PhD candidate with and Jean Bouyer and Elise de La Rochebrochard are with the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, Institut national d'etudes démographiques, Aubervilliers, France, and Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université Paris-Saclay, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Elise de La Rochebrochard
- Khaoula Ben Messaoud is a PhD candidate with and Jean Bouyer and Elise de La Rochebrochard are with the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, Institut national d'etudes démographiques, Aubervilliers, France, and Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université Paris-Saclay, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
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