title: Improved pregnancy outcome for women with decreased ovarian oocyte reserve and advanced reproductive age by performing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the pregnancy rates with IVF-ET vs non-assisted reproductive technology in women of more advanced reproductive age with decreased egg reserve as manifested by elevated day 3 serum FSH.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective evaluation was made in women aged > or = 38 with a day 3 serum FSH of degrees 15 mIU/ml with > or = 1 year of infertility. Another inclusion criterion was three cycles (unless a pregnancy occurred before that time) of either IVF-ET or non-assisted reproductive therapy which as a minimum included luteal phase support with progesterone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical pregnancy rates in three cycles for non-IVF were 11.7% vs 27.2% for IVF. Delivery rates were 2.9% vs 15.1%. For ages 40-42 the clinical pregnancy rates were 37.5% vs 0.0% (p = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Live deliveries are possible in women > or = age 38 with marked decreased egg reserve. In vitro fertilization is more effective than non-IVF when follicle stimulation with gonadotropins is mild.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Camden, NJ, USA. laurie@ccivf.com
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Check
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Liss
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Choe