Live delivery and implantation rates of donor oocyte recipients in their late forties are similar to younger recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a certain age when the uterus is somewhat less receptive to successful pregnancy despite the transfer of embryos from donated oocytes. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of donor oocyte recipient cycles according to specific ages. The recipients used an oral/vaginal graduated estradiol regimen followed by intramuscular and vaginal progesterone. Only recipients sharing oocytes with either the donor or another recipient were included. RESULTS: Evaluating the pregnancy rate by each year of age from 40-49 following transfer of embryos derived from donor oocytes showed no trend for lower pregnancy rates up to age 49. In fact the highest live delivery pregnancy rates (though not significant) were found at ages 47 (64.3%) and 49 (63.6%). The live delivered pregnancy rates for recipients < or = 39 was 52.5% vs. 55.6% for women > or = age 46. The live delivered pregnancy rate was 34.6% for women > or = age 50. The pregnancy and implantation rates were similar whether the source was infertile women sharing half their oocytes or compensated donors. CONCLUSION: The uterus does not seem to have a diminished capacity for implantation up to the age of 49, but it may be slightly less receptive after age 50.

Effect of maximal endometrial thickness on outcome after frozen embryo transfer.

The largest study to date on the association of endometrial thickness and subsequent pregnancy rates following frozen embryo transfer with the endometrium prepared by estrogen and progesterone found no improved or adverse outcome if the endometrial thickness was > or = standard deviations above the mean. Neither was there a trend noted for thin endometria.

Sharing of oocytes from infertile versus paid donors results in similar pregnancy and implantation rates.

Addition of infertile donors to the recipient program would increase availability of donor eggs and reduce long waiting times. Furthermore, it may allow some patients (i.e., the donors) to have IVF services even though they do not have adequate finances.

The feasibility of embryo donation.

Transfer of donated frozen embryos of various quality to recipients resulted in a delivered pregnancy rate of 36.8% per transfer. Hopefully these data will encourage other in vitro fertilization programs to set up similar programs.

Increased endometrial thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin injection does not adversely affect pregnancy or implantation rates following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the controversy whether an increased endometrial thickness has an effect on pregnancy, implantation, or abortion rates in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: A university-based IVF center. PATIENT(S): Five hundred seventy women under the age of 40. INTERVENTION(S): Measurements of endometrial thickness on day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. Cycles were compared by endometrial thickness of 14 mm in 60 women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation, pregnancy, and abortion rates. RESULT(S): Implantation, pregnancy, and abortion rates were similar in each group. In cycles where the endometrial thickness was 14 mm. CONCLUSION(S): No adverse effects of a thickened endometrium were demonstrated on implantation, pregnancy, or abortion rates in the first IVF-ET cycle. These findings fail to corroborate with those of Weissman et al. and support those of Yakin et al.