title: Success rates with gamete intrafallopian transfer and in vitro fertilization in women of advanced maternal age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of maternal age on outcomes for IVF and GIFT in women 40 to 45 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Boston IVF, a free-standing university-affiliated IVF and GIFT unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2,931 cycles of IVF and 1,826 cycles of GIFT were analyzed in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (IVF or GIFT) using autologous eggs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of patient outcomes were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For patients undergoing IVF, the cancellation rate for initiated cycles showed significant differences in women aged 25 to 39 (38.3%), women aged 40 to 43 (49.5%), and women aged 44 to 45 years (69.5%). A significantly lower delivery rate per stimulation and delivery rate per retrieval was found in women aged 40 to 43 years when compared with women aged 25 to 39 years. No deliveries occurred in 59 cycles in women aged 44 to 45 years, thereby representing a significant difference when compared with both women aged 25 to 39 years and women aged 40 to 43 years. For patients undergoing GIFT, the cancellation rate for initiated cycles was significantly higher in women aged 40 to 43 (25.0%) and 44 to 45 years (31.0%) when compared with women aged 25 to 39 years (15.1%). A significantly lower delivery rate per stimulation and delivery rate per retrieval was found in women aged 40 to 43 and 44 to 45 years when compared with women aged 25 to 39 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Success rates for IVF and GIFT decline significantly in women > 40 years old. Women aged > or = 44 years are unlikely to benefit from the use of IVF and GIFT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bopp
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alper
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mortola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015181:Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012189:Retrospective Studies