A scoping review of infertility research conducted in the Republic Of Ireland

Abstract

Background Approximately 25 million citizens in Europe experience infertility. Until September 2023, the Republic of Ireland (RoI) was the only state in the European Union that did not offer any state-funded access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). As research supports the understanding, and improvement, of care delivery, and research activity is associated with healthcare performance, it seems timely to develop an understanding of infertility research to-date in RoI. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the extent and nature of research on infertility conducted in RoI. Methods A protocol for this scoping review was published through the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/H8F4Y) in March 2023. The search strategy was comprised of electronic searches, review of reference lists, grey literature searches, and screening of publications from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Studies focused on infertility or infertility care that were conducted in RoI were included. Deductive content analysis was used to cluster studies. Results In total, 105 studies were included and published between 1951 and 2023, with a marked increase from 2010. Studies most frequently considered Success Rates of ART (31.4%), Service Description and Evaluation (12.4%), and Optimising Treatment Regimes or Protocols (11.4%). Conclusions The sizable body of research is congruent with the increasing burden of infertility. However, the literature is limited by a predominant focus on ART success rates, a dearth of qualitative studies, limited engagement with healthcare providers, and limited exploration of the quality of care provision. This review may offer a useful model for researchers in other countries. The variability in availability, and outcomes, of ART across Europe conveys the necessity of understanding and advancing research within individual countries and health systems as well as internationally.