Pregnancy loss in the first in vitro fertilization cycle is not predictive of subsequent delivery in women over 40 years.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if there is an association between first IVF cycle outcome and subsequent delivery rate for women over 40 years.


METHODS
Retrospective data analysis.


METHODS
Large, private academically affiliated IVF center.


METHODS
Patients over 40 years of age undergoing IVF.


METHODS
Delivery rate compared between patients with a pregnancy loss versus a negative beta-hCG in their first cycle. Additional factors including subsequent pregnancy losses, total number of IVF cycles, and delivery rates per cycle were also analyzed.


RESULTS
Among women who underwent their first IVF cycle over age 40, 8% of women had a pregnancy loss and 82% had a negative beta-hCG in their initial IVF cycle. In the pregnancy loss and negative beta-hCG groups, 17.9% and 21.9%, respectively, had a successful delivery in a future cycle. There were no further pregnancies leading to delivery after the fourth treatment cycle for the pregnancy loss group and the sixth treatment cycle for the negative beta-hCG group. The average number of cycles and the number of subsequent pregnancy losses were similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Outcome of initial IVF cycle is not prognostic of future delivery for women over the age of 40 years.
Sneeringer
Rita
R
Boston IVF, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. rsneerin@bidmc.harvard.edu
Klipstein
Sigal
S
Ryley
David A
DA
Alper
Michael M
MM
Reindollar
Richard H
RH
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome