BACKGROUND: Since 1990, the Latin American Registry of Assisted Reproduction covers more than 80% of the assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles performed regionally. METHODS: 130 centers enter their data online, and after collection, it is analyzed and published regionally. RESULTS: This paper analyses trends in ART procedures initiated between 1990 and 2004, and babies born up to 2005. Overall, the data include 150,000 embryo transfer (ET) cycles, 33,500 deliveries and the birth of

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... 8 babies. The yearly increment in initiated cycles is below other regions of the world. The economic, religious and social factors explaining this limited access to ART are discussed. Major trends include: an increase in the age of female partner undergoing treatments; a marked shift towards an increase in the use of ICSI; and a steady increase in the delivery rates per ET reaching 24.6% in IVF/ICSI cycles, and 30.7% in OD cycles. Despite a slight decrease in the mean number of ET (2.9), almost half of all births are either twins or triplets. CONCLUSIONS: Our region is confronted with two main issues: limited access to those who can afford it; and a high number of embryos transferred resulting in almost 50% of babies born from multiple births.