Dramatic declines in implantation and pregnancy rates in patients who undergo repeated cycles of in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer after one or more failed attempts.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the outcome of second and third cycles of in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer to the outcome of first attempts at IVF with blastocyst transfer.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Private ART center.


METHODS
Three hundred and four patients undergoing treatment with in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer, 87 of which underwent at least one cycle of re-treatment after failing to achieve pregnancy in their first cycle.


METHODS
Bipronucleate oocytes were grown for up to 144 hours and subsequently transferred when at least one embryo attained the expanded blastocyst stage.


METHODS
Pregnancy and implantation rates.


RESULTS
Pregnancy rates per retrieval were significantly higher for patients undergoing their first cycle of in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer (36%) compared to those undergoing their second (19%) or their third (9%) cycles of treatment. Implantation rates per embryo were also higher for first cycles of in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer (30%) compared to second (18%) or third cycles (8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy and implantation rates decline dramatically in repeated cycles of in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer following one or more unsuccessful cycles of in vitro fertilization with blastocyst transfer.
Shapiro
B S
BS
Fertility Center of Las Vegas, NV 89117, USA. bsshapiro@aol.com
Richter
K S
KS
Harris
D C
DC
Daneshmand
S T
ST
D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure