EFFECT OF THE AGE OF PATIENTS ON QUALITY OF OOCYTES, EMBRYOS AND OUTcomeS OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAMS

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the age of patients on the quantity and quality of their oocytes, quality of embryos and the results of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.Materials and methods. We conducted retrospective analysis of 668 embryo records of couples with women aged from 19 to 43, who were treated by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. In this analysis we included the data of the quantity and quality of their oocytes, their fertilization, methods of fertilization and the results of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The efficiency of treatment was estimated by the pregnancy rate.Results. The amount of elder group of patients (aged 35 years and older) was 25,1%. For this group we observed the decrease of studied parameters: quantity of oocytes, quantity of fertilized oocytes, and quantity of “good” (viable) oocytes. The main indicator of IVF & ET efficiency, the pregnancy rate also declined with the increase of the age of patients.Conclusion. We analyzed the obtained data and confirmed the decline in efficient treatment of infertility by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in the group of patients aged 35 years and older. It is necessary to apply different reproductive methods for the patients of different ages: cancelling of embryo transfer with cryopreservation, transfer of a certain best quality embryo, applying the programs of IVF & ET with donor oocytes.

Keywords

• late reproductive age
• oocyte quality
• embryo quality
• in vitro fertilization
• pregnancy rate