PURPOSE: The purpose was to determine whether the number of embryos available for transfer following IVF in women over age 39 predicted a successful pregnancy outcome. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 455 consecutive IVF cycles in women > or = 40 years of age. RESULTS: Few cycles were canceled (29/455, 6.4%) or produced no embryos (5/455, 1.1%). Women 40-43 years of age with normal ovarian reserve had a significantly greater delivery rate when > or = 4 embryos were available for transfer than when < 4 embryos were available (17.8% versus 2.4%, P = 0.002). Subsequent IVF cycles, from women with normal FSH whose first cycle produced < 4 embryos, produced delivery rates of 13.0% when > or = 4 embryos were available. Women with abnormal ovarian reserve or age > or = 44 years had very low delivery rates (1.2% and 1.4% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The number of embryos available for transfer significantly predicts delivery from IVF-ET among reproductively older women. Many women age 40-43 with normal ovarian reserve can achieve pregnancy through IVF.
PURPOSE: The purpose was to determine whether the number of embryos available for transfer following IVF in women over age 39 predicted a successful pregnancy outcome. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 455 consecutive IVF cycles in women > or = 40 years of age. RESULTS: Few cycles were canceled (29/455, 6.4%) or produced no embryos (5/455, 1.1%). Women 40-43 years of age with normal ovarian reserve had a significantly greater delivery rate when > or = 4 embryos were available for transfer than when < 4 embryos were available (17.8% versus 2.4%, P = 0.002). Subsequent IVF cycles, from women with normal FSH whose first cycle produced < 4 embryos, produced delivery rates of 13.0% when > or = 4 embryos were available. Women with abnormal ovarian reserve or age > or = 44 years had very low delivery rates (1.2% and 1.4% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The number of embryos available for transfer significantly predicts delivery from IVF-ET among reproductively older women. Many women age 40-43 with normal ovarian reserve can achieve pregnancy through IVF.