title: The predictive value of idiopathic failure to fertilize on the first in vitro fertilization attempt.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the subsequent performance of patients with idiopathic fertilization failure on the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 2,322 consecutive patients undergoing their initial IVF cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Advanced infertility treatment in an IVF/general infertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 5 years, 94 couples with unexplained failed oocyte fertilization had 270 cycles of treatment. Each couple's performance was tracked through subsequent cycles of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro fertilization with husband and donor sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Investigated retrospectively after 5 years of data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five couples of the original 94 had a second IVF attempt. Fifty of these successfully fertilized oocytes with husband's sperm and 4 with donor sperm. Nineteen of the 65 couples who continued treatment achieved a pregnancy, and only one couple had continuing fertilization failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis in the study group was surprisingly favorable despite the initial failed IVF treatment cycle.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Fertility Group, Watkins Medical Centre, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hennessey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa; D014019:Tissue Donors