The effect of women age on oocyte number, oocyte quality, fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rates for in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection/embryo transfer cycles

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the influence of age in women on number and quality of oocyte, fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rate for In Vitro Fertilization-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection/Embryo Transfer cycles.Methods: Cycles of used recombinant Follicle Stimulating Hormone for Controlled Overian Stimulation and In Vitro Fertilization-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection/Embryo Transfer conducted due to unexplained infertility between 01.01.2009 - 01.01.2012 in Çukurova University Medical Faculty Balcalı Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Departmant, Assisted Reproduction Centre on 408 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were grouped as women of age 35 and higher and women lower than 35.Results: The study shows cases of poor pregnancy outcome due to increased age for assisted reproduction techniques that supports results of studies in the literature. It was observed that the number and quality of retrieved oocyte decreased significantly in women of age 35 or older as compared with the women of age 34 and younger (p=<0.01). No significant decrease in the number of qualified embryo for women of age 35 or higher when compared with the one of age 34 or younger was observed (p=0.07). A significant decrease in the number of fertilised oocyte for women of age 35 or older when compared with the one of age 34 or younger was observed (p=0.04). Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and clinical pregnancy were significantly higher for women of age 34 or younger (p=0.01). A significantly higher living birth rate was observed for women of age 34 or younger (p=0.02).Conclusion: The patients applying for expensive treatments like In Vitro Fertilization-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection/Embryo Transfer should be adequately informed of the adverse effects of age on pregnancy outcome during consultation, the possibility of poor outcome and failure should be told, the hopes and expectations of being parents should be managed appropriately.