Success of donor oocyte in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in recipients with and without premature ovarian failure.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of donor oocyte in IVF-ET in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) versus those (non-POF) with other indications for donor oocyte IVF-ET.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative clinical study.

SETTING

University-based IVF-ET facility.

PATIENTS

Eighty-six donor oocyte IVF-ET cycles from 32 POF patients (39 cycles) and 38 non-POF patients (47 cycles).

INTERVENTIONS

Fertile oocyte donors, age 19 to 38 years, were given luteal phase GnRH agonist, gonadotropins, and HCG. Recipients were given transdermal 17 beta-E2 and P in oil.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Donor and recipient age, characteristics of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, oocytes retrieved, embryos frozen and transferred, and percentage with male factor infertility, fertilization rate, implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy rate (PR) per cycle and per transfer.

RESULTS

Given limitations of sample size, there were no detectable differences in clinical PR per cycle and per transfer, fertilization rate, and implantation rate between POF and non-POF groups despite recognizable differences in recipient age and degree of male factor infertility.

CONCLUSIONS

Donor oocyte IVF-ET success rates were not different in patients with and without POF. Age-related changes in oocyte quality, rather than uterine senescence, is a major factor for the age-related decline in fertility.