Female age is an important parameter to predict treatment outcome in intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the results obtained in our clinic with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in severe male factor infertility and failed fertilization and to determine if the age of the female has any impact on those results.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Private high-complexity Human Reproduction Center.

PATIENTS

One hundred five couples with a total of 114 procedures. Eighty-six were classified as severe male factor and 19 were classified as previous failed fertilization.

INTERVENTIONS

Treatment was performed by ICSI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Normal fertilization, cleavage, and implantation, total, term, and ongoing pregnancy rates in the total population and in different age brackets.

RESULTS

Excellent fertilization, cleavage, and implantation rates were obtained with this procedure (78%, 85%, and 13.5%, respectively). The total pregnancy rates were 43% and 46% per cycle and per transfer and 31.5% and 33.6% in terms of term and ongoing pregnancy rates. A significant reduction in implantation and total, and term and ongoing pregnancy rates was seen after the age of 35 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained with ICSI are quite satisfactory with proper equipment and careful training. The age of the female is an important parameter in determining prognosis and treatment outcome.