title: The ovarian response as a predictor for successful in vitro fertilization treatment after the age of 40 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether age or response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is a better predictor of IVF outcome in women > or = 40 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A transport IVF program.
  
  
  METHODS
  For patients undergoing IVF treatment the correlation between treatment outcome and age and response to COH was analyzed using the data of 2,588 consecutive cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of poor ovarian response rises significantly with increasing age. Analysis of all cycles showed a significant decrease in clinical and ongoing pregnancy rate for women > or = 40 years. Analysis of cycles with a good ovarian response showed no statistically significant differences for these parameters between women > or = 40 years and those younger. A logistic regression analysis on pregnancy showed that ovarian response contributes more to the prediction of pregnancy than age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients aged > or = 40 years with a good response to COH have a good prognosis for IVF treatment. The age limit for acceptance of patients should not be set at 40 years. Instead, the response to COH can be used to predict candidates likely to have a successful IVF outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roest
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Heusden
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mous
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Zeilmaker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verhoeff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D010053:Ovary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D016896:Treatment Outcome