The influence of advanced age on the outcome of assisted reproduction.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the influence of age on the outcome of assisted reproduction, with particular interest in women aged 40 years or older.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the 779 patients enrolled in the Royal Hospital for Women Fertility Group fertility program between 1987 and 1994 was performed. The results for women aged 40 years or older were compared with those for women between 36 and 39 years and those younger than 36 years. The main outcome measures were pregnancy rate, pregnancy outcome, fertilization rate, and ovarian response.


RESULTS
Compared with those in younger women, pregnancy rate, pregnancy outcome, fertilization rate, and ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation were significantly worse in women aged 40 years or older.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of assisted reproduction in women of 40 years of age or older was extremely poor. Compared with those in younger women, pregnancy outcome and ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation were significantly worse in women of 40 years or more.
Dew
J E
JE
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
Don
R A
RA
Hughes
G J
GJ
Johnson
T C
TC
Steigrad
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015181:Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017388:Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data