A retrospective study of the effect of increasing age on success rates of assisted reproductive technology.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the effect of increasing age on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology, particularly among women aged 40 years or older.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted using prospectively collected data for all in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles among women aged 30-35 years or 40-44 years conducted at Merrion Fertility Clinic, Dublin, Ireland, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. The relationship between age and treatment outcome was assessed.

RESULTS

Among women aged 30-35 years, 726 cycles led to 281 (38.7%) clinical pregnancies and 242 (33.3%) live births. By contrast, among women aged 40-44 years, 433 cycles led to 102 (23.6%) clinical pregnancies and 64 (14.8%) live births (both P<0.001). The live birth rate was particularly low after cycles among the women aged 42 years (5/89 [5.6%]) or 43 years (2/30 [6.7%]).

CONCLUSION

The success rates of assisted reproductive technology are decreased among women aged older than 40 years. Fertility clinics have a responsibility to fully inform this group about the limitations of assisted reproductive technology.