title: Beyond the American Society for Reproductive Medicine transfer guidelines: how many cleavage-stage embryos are safe to transfer in women ≥43 years old?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the number of cleavage-stage embryos that can be safely transferred in women ≥43 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients ≥43 years old undergoing transfer of five or more cleavage-stage embryos during the period from January 2004 through April 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro fertilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 567 cycles in 464 patients aged 43-45 years, whose IVF cycles were characterized by transfer of five to eight cleavage-stage embryos were identified. Clinical outcomes and risk of multiples were analyzed, stratifying by age and number of embryos transferred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Live birth rates per transfer were 14.4%, 9.4%, and 1.3% for women aged 43, 44, and 45 years, respectively. In 43-year-old women, 2.9% (2/69) of pregnancies were triplet gestations (one selective reduction and one spontaneous reduction). Twin birth rate was 16.3%, 6.7%, and 0 (of all live births) for ages 43, 44, and 45 years, respectively. There was no higher order multiple births. Women aged 43 and 44 years having five or more embryos transferred experienced higher clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) than those patients receiving a transfer of three or four embryos. Clinical outcomes for patients undergoing transfer with six or more embryos were not better than those undergoing transfer with five embryos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transferring five or more day 3 embryos may be a safe option for patients ≥43 years of age, as it is associated with an overall low rate of multiple gestations. Having more than five embryos available for transfer on day 5 is associated with improved IVF outcomes. Whether this benefit is from the additional embryo(s) for transfer or the inherently better prognosis of such patients remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gunnala
authors.affiliation: The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Reichman
authors.affiliation: The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York. Electronic address: okdavis@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Owen K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Zev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rosenwaks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: IVF; age >43 years; higher order multiples; number of embryos