FEMALE AGE IS AN IMPORTANT PARAMETER TO PREDICT TREATMENT OUTCOME IN INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION

Objective: To assess the results obtained in our clinic with intracyto plasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in severe male factor infertility and f ailed fertilization and to determine if the age of the female has any impact on those results.Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Private high-complexity Human Reproduction Center. Patients: One hundred five couples with a total of 114 procedures. Eighty-six were classified as severe male factor and 19 were classified as previous failed fertiliza tion. Interventions: Treatment was performed by ICSI. Main Outcome Mea sure: Normal fertilization, cleavage, and implantation, total, term, a nd ongoing pregnancy rates in the total population and in different ag e brackets. Results: Excellent fertilization, cleavage, and implantati on rates were obtained with this procedure (78%, 85%, and 13.5%, respe ctively). The total pregnancy rates were 43% and 46% per cycle and per transfer and 31.5% and 33.6% in terms of term and ongoing pregnancy r ates. A significant reduction in implantation and total, and term and ongoing pregnancy rates was seen after the age of 35 years. Conclusion s: The results obtained with ICSI are quite satisfactory with proper e quipment and careful training. The age of the female is an important p arameter in determining prognosis and treatment outcome.