A retrospective study of the effect of increasing age on success rates of assisted reproductive technology.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the effect of increasing age on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology, particularly among women aged 40 years or older.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted using prospectively collected data for all in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles among women aged 30-35 years or 40-44 years conducted at Merrion Fertility Clinic, Dublin, Ireland, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. The relationship between age and treatment outcome was assessed.


RESULTS
Among women aged 30-35 years, 726 cycles led to 281 (38.7%) clinical pregnancies and 242 (33.3%) live births. By contrast, among women aged 40-44 years, 433 cycles led to 102 (23.6%) clinical pregnancies and 64 (14.8%) live births (both P<0.001). The live birth rate was particularly low after cycles among the women aged 42 years (5/89 [5.6%]) or 43 years (2/30 [6.7%]).


CONCLUSIONS
The success rates of assisted reproductive technology are decreased among women aged older than 40 years. Fertility clinics have a responsibility to fully inform this group about the limitations of assisted reproductive technology.
Merrion Fertility Clinic, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Gynecology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Yvonne M
YM
O'Brien
School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Michael
M
Ryan
Merrion Fertility Clinic, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Gynecology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Fiona
F
Martyn
Merrion Fertility Clinic, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Gynecology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Mary B
MB
Wingfield
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
Assisted reproductive technology; Delayed childbearing; Maternal age; Outcome; Ovarian reserve