Objective: To investigate the influence of female age on the pregnancy and obstetric outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, expecting to select the most suitable strategy for women with different ages.
Methods: One thousand three hundred and one IVF-ET cycles from January 2002 to May 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. All the cycles were divided into five groups by female age: < or = 25, 26 to approximately 29, 30 to approximately 34, 35 to approximately 39 and > or = 40 years.
Results: The pregnancy rate was significantly lower( 58.2%, 60.0%, 52.3%, 45.7% and 29.41% respectively, P < 0.05), and implantation rate was significantly lower too(40.8%, 39.72%, 33.78%, 29.6% and 13.9% respectively, P < 0.05). But the abortion rate increased dramatically (5.3%, 6.8%, 9.7%, 11.6% and 26.7% respectively) and multiple pregnancy rate decreased (57.9%, 45.5%, 41.9%, 46.5% and 6.7% respectively). There were no significant differences about the obstetric results (premature delivery, gestational age, birth weight, caesarean).
Conclusion: With the age growing, the implantation rate, pregnancy rate and multiple rate decreased, while the abortion rate increased, especially when the age over 40. Suitable controlled ovarian hyperstimulation regimens and improving oocyte quality were described for elder women. For younger women, suitable transfer strategy should be advised to decrease multiple pregnancy without decrease in the ongoing pregnancy rate.