The prognostic value of age and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in women over forty years of age undergoing in vitro fertilization.

PURPOSE

Basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and age are predictors of successful outcome in in vitro fertilization (IVF). More recently, the clomiphene citrate challenge test (CCCT) has been proposed as a better way to predict IVF outcome than FSH alone. The purpose of this study was to determine which indicator of ovarian reserve--basal (day 3) FSH or the CCCT--is the better predictor of IVF success in the critical age group of women over the age of 40.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, basal FSH and clomiphene-stimulated FSH levels from 104 women who underwent 175 cycles of IVF were analyzed.

RESULTS

Neither basal FSH level nor stimulated FSH level alone were statistically significant predictors of IVF success; however, no patient with a day 3 FSH level > 11.1 mIU/ml or a stimulated day 10 FSH level > 13.5 mIU/ml conceived and carried a pregnancy. All ongoing pregnancies occurred in the first two cycles of IVF.

CONCLUSIONS

Clear prognostic cutoff values were found to predict IVF success in women over age 40. IVF programs should consider limiting the number of cycles of IVF in women above age 40.