Pregnancy Rates in Older Poor Responders Who Achieve Embryo Transfer in Long Down-Regulated ART Cycles Are Comparable to Those in Younger Poor Responders

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether older women with a poor response to follicular stimulation achieve pregnancy results that are comparable to those of younger poor responders. Methods: Two hundred five women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment at the Fertility Unit in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia were selected for retrospective cohort analysis. The outcomes in women > 38 years of age with < 5 oocytes retrieved were compared with those in women ≤ 38 years who also had < 5 oocytes retrieved. Clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates were compared. Results: Implantation rates (21.01 ± 0.38 % vs 12.82 ± 0.27%, P = 0.11) and clinical pregnancy rates (25.71 ± 0.44% vs 20.21 ± 0.40%, P = 0.41) were similar in the two groups following cleavage stage embryo transfer. The same was true for blastocyst stage embryo transfer (implantation rates 16.67 ± 0.33% vs 13.89 ± 0.33%, P = 0.80, and clinical pregnancy rates 23.81 ± 0.44% vs 16.67 ± 0.38%, P = 0.59). Ongoing pregnancies beyond the 12th week of gestation were also comparable between cleavage stage (24.28. ± 0.43% vs 16.84 ± 0.34%, P = 0.24) and blastocyst stage embryo transfers (23.81 ± 0.44% vs 11.11 ± 0.32%, P = 0.32). Conclusion: If older poor responders reach the stage of embryo transfer, they can achieve pregnancy rates similar to those of younger poor responders when matched numbers of embryos are transferred. © 2012 Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.