The number of embryos available for transfer predicts successful pregnancy outcome in women over 39 years with normal ovarian hormonal reserve testing.

PURPOSE

The purpose was to determine whether the number of embryos available for transfer following IVF in women over age 39 predicted a successful pregnancy outcome.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 455 consecutive IVF cycles in women > or = 40 years of age.

RESULTS

Few cycles were canceled (29/455, 6.4%) or produced no embryos (5/455, 1.1%). Women 40-43 years of age with normal ovarian reserve had a significantly greater delivery rate when > or = 4 embryos were available for transfer than when < 4 embryos were available (17.8% versus 2.4%, P = 0.002). Subsequent IVF cycles, from women with normal FSH whose first cycle produced < 4 embryos, produced delivery rates of 13.0% when > or = 4 embryos were available. Women with abnormal ovarian reserve or age > or = 44 years had very low delivery rates (1.2% and 1.4% respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of embryos available for transfer significantly predicts delivery from IVF-ET among reproductively older women. Many women age 40-43 with normal ovarian reserve can achieve pregnancy through IVF.