Age does not affect uterine resistance to vascular flow in patients undergoing oocyte donation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether uterine vasculature is affected by age using oocyte donation as an in vivo model. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study in which recipients were grouped according to age. They underwent a successful oocyte donation cycle, and single pregnancies were followed during the first trimester by color Doppler ultrasound in uterine arteries. SETTING: Oocyte donation and IVF program at the Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad. INTERVENTIONS: Serum E2, P, and hCG levels in single ovum donation pregnancies; pulsatility and resistance indexes in uterine arteries during initial pregnancy. RESULTS: Similar serum levels of E2, P, and hCG in both groups of patients were observed. There was no difference between groups regarding the flow indexes analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of early pregnancy losses observed in patients > 40 years cannot be attributed to defective response of uterine vasculature to exogenous hormone replacement. Thus, uterine aging does not appear to be a factor influencing the poor reproductive performance of women with advancing age.