title: [Effects of patient age, number and quality of embryo transferred on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of patient age, the number and quality of embryo transferred on pregnancy outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ETs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed in infertile women who underwent a total of 1800 cycles of IVF-ET and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The patients were divided into three age groups, namely<30 years group, 30-35 years group, and>or=35 years group. The clinical pregnancy rate and the multiple pregnancy rate were compared when 1, 2 or 3 embryos and 0, 1, 2 or 3 good-quality embryos were transferred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients<30 years, no significant differences was found in the clinical pregnancy rate between 1, 2 and 3 embryos transfer groups; 2 and 3 good-quality embryos transfer resulted in similar pregnancy rate, which was significantly higher than that resulted from 0 and 1 good-quality embryo transfer. Multiple pregnancy was not found in 1 embryo transfer group. In patients aged 30-35 years, the pregnancy rate showed no significant differences not only between 1 and 2 embryos transfer groups, but also between 2 and 3 good-quality embryos transfer groups; multiple embryo transfer led to significantly increased multiple pregnancy rate. In patients aged>or=35 years, the transfer of 1, 2 and 3 embryos resulted in similar pregnancy rate; transfer of 3 good-quality embryos had obviously higher pregnancy rate than 0, 1 and 2 good-quality embryos transfer groups. Increased numbers of embryos and good-quality embryos transferred were both associated with increased multiple pregnancy rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One good-quality embryo transfer in patients<30 years and 2 good-quality embryos transfer in patients>or=30 years can obtain ideal pregnancy rate and reduce the incidence of multiple pregnancy. For patients aged>or=35 years, transfer of only good-quality embryo is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Assisted Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510150, China. lili77191212@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-qiao
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-zi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wen-hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yu-ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012189:Retrospective Studies