title: The effect of diminished oocyte reserve in younger women (age < or = 37) on pregnancy rates in natural cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relative confounding effect of diminished oocyte reserve on the chance of successful pregnancy in non-in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Matched controlled study comparing pregnancy outcome in women aged < or = 37 years with severely decreased oocyte reserve as manifested by a day 3 serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) > or = 15 mIU/ml compared to women with normal oocyte reserve (serum FSH < or = 8 mIU/ml). Couples were excluded if they did not have tubal patency or a semen analysis that required IVF-ET. Only couples that tried at least three natural cycles (unless pregnancy occurred first) were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The live delivered pregnancy rates within a maximum of five cycles of luteal phase support with progesterone (P) or at most mild FSH stimulation, or intrauterine insemination for mild male factor or cervical factor was 33.3% (8/24) with increased day 3 FSH and 62.5% (16/24) for the normal group (p = 0.08, Fisher's exact test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with marked oocyte depletion are half as likely to conceive with assisted reproductive techniques compared to women with normal oocyte reserve.
authors.affiliation: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA. laurie@ccivf.com
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Check
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone