Cumulative newborn rates increase with the total number of transferred embryos according to an analysis of 15,792 ovum donation cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) of donated ova according to cumulative newborn rates (CNBR) per number of embryos required to achieve at least one newborn (EmbR), considering in addition the relevance of age and infertility etiology.


METHODS
Survival curves and Kaplan-Meier methods were employed to analyze CNBR with respect to the number of EmbR in a retrospective cohort of oocyte donation recipients.


METHODS
University-affiliated infertility center.


METHODS
Infertile couples undergoing IVF with oocyte donation.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
CNBR per EmbR.


RESULTS
The CNBR increased radically (up to 64.8%) between 1 and 5 EmbR, moderately (85.2%) between 5 and 15, and slowly thereafter, reaching a plateau at 15 embryos (92.4%) and peaking after 25 EmbR (96.8%), thus demonstrating that the chances of success vary as failed attempts accumulate. Patient age was not a negative factor, and indication for oocyte donation was also irrelevant to the outcome. The data showed an overall mean number of 2.6 embryo transfers and 5.8 transferred embryos per newborn.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between CNBR and number of EmbR provides pragmatic and exact information about the probability of success with oocyte donation, which is of obvious relevance to patient counseling.
Instituto Universitario IVI Valencia, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. nicolas.garrido@ivi.es
Nicolás
N
Garrido
José
J
Bellver
José
J
Remohí
Pilar
P
Alamá
Antonio
A
Pellicer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult