THE OUTCOME OF IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION IN UNEXPLAINED HABITUAL ABORTERS CONCURRENT WITH SECONDARY INFERTILITY

Objective: To compare the IVF-ET reproductive performance of unexplain ed habitual aborters with nonaborting women with similar characteristi cs also treated with IVF-ET. Design: Controlled clinical study. Settin g: In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. Patient(s): Twenty patients with habitual abortions and secon dary infertility were subjected to 42 IVF-ET cycles. Their reproductiv e performance in IVF-ET was compared with the performance of the next followed nonaborting patients, pulled from a database. based on simila r age and IVF indications. Intervention(s): Ovulation induction with I M Depo-triptorelin 3.75 mg and menotropins, Oocyte retrieval, embryo t ransfer, and luteal supplementation with hCG. Main Outcome Measure(s): Mean number of oocytes and fertilizations, mean number of embryos and their morphology. Pregnancy rates (PRs) and pregnancy outcome. Result (s): The mean number of oocytes, fertilizations, and embryos was highe r in the aborters compared with the controls. Morphology of the transf erred embryos was similar in both groups though in general better qual ity embryos developed in the aborters group. Pregnancy rates were simi lar in both groups (32% and 29% per cycle). Pregnancy outcome of the h abitual aborting patients in IVF-ET remained unsuccessful, as before t reatment: 50% abortions (7/14) compared with only an 8% abortion rate (1/12) in the controls. Conclusion(s): Habitual aborters' performance at early stages of IVF-ET is better compared with their controls. Desp ite similar PRs in IVF-ET cycles, their pregnancy outcome after IVF-ET is unsuccessful, as before IVF-ET.