IVF in women aged 43 years and older: a 20-year experience. Issue 4 (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernandez, Alice Machado; Drakopoulos, Panagiotis; Rosetti, Jerome; Uvin, Valerie; Mackens, Shari; Bardhi, Erlisa; De Vos, Michel; Camus, Michel; Tournaye, Herman; De Brucker, Michael
• Is Part Of: Reproductive biomedicine online. Volume 42:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 768
• Page End: 773
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Advanced maternal age -- ART -- IVF/ICSI -- Oocytes, live birth rate; Human reproductive technology -- Periodicals; Human embryo -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; 616.692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.12.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-6483

Abstract

Abstract: Research question: What are the reproductive outcomes of women aged 43 years and older undergoing IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment using their own eggs. Design: Retrospective study of 833 woman aged 43 years or older undergoing their first IVF and ICSI cycle using autologous oocytes at a tertiary referral hospital between January 1995 and December 2019. Live birth rate (LBR) after 24 weeks' gestation was the primary outcome. Results: Ninety-five out of 833 (11.4%) had a positive HCG, whereas 59 (62.1% per positive HCG) had a miscarriage before 12 weeks' gestation and 36 (4.3%) live births were achieved. Analysis by age showed that the number of cumulus–oocyte complexes retrieved was significantly different between the four age groups: 43 years (5 [3–9]); 44 years (5 [2–7]); 45 years (3 [2–8)]); ≥45 years (2.5 [2–6]); P < 0.01; the number of metaphase II oocytes, however, was similar. Positive HCG rates remained low: 43 years (78/580 [13.4%]); 44 years (14/192 [7.3%]); 45 years (1/39 [2.6%]; and ≥46 years (2/22 [9.1%]); P = 0.03, as did LBR: 43 years (28 [4.8%]); 44 (7 [3.6%]); 45 years (0 [0%]); and ≥46 years (1 [4.5%]); P = 0.5. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that only number of metaphase II was significantly associated with LBR, when age was considered as a continuous (OR 1.08, 96% CI 1.004 to 1.16) or categorical variable (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.005 to 1.16). Conclusion: The chances of achieving a live birth in patients aged 43 years and older undergoing IVF/ICSI with their own gametes are low, even in cases of patients with a relatively 'normal' ovarian reserve for their age.