Determining fertility rate in women using Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) and aged > 38 years in Montaserieh infertility center, Mashhad

The struggle for the treatment of infertility has long been a major issue in medicine. But fertility rate naturally decreases in women with age and also in those using Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). The purpose of this study was to determine fertility rate in women undergoing ART and aged > 38 years. In this cross-sectional study, 150 patients with infertility aged > 38 years, who had referred to Mashhad Montaserieh hospital for treatment by IVF from 2009 to 2014, were evaluated. The results were evaluated using a questionnaire including age of the patient and her husband, the cause and duration of infertility, spermogram, the number of treatment cycles, the number of used ampoules, the number of retrieved oocytes, the number of transferred embryos, the result of treatment, and the results of pregnancy. The analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software, T-test, and Chi-square test. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of women and their husbands was higher in the group with treatment failure than in patients with successful ART, but the association was not statistically significant. Shorter infertility duration and multifactorial infertility were associated with better treatment response, but that too was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the number of previous treatment cycles and the number of used ampoules. Increased number of retrieved oocytes was related with increasing successful fertility rate, but was not statistically significant. Increased number of transferred embryos was significantly associated with successful fertility rate. The success rate of ART was 7.3%. Infertile couples' age is one of the most important factors in the success of ART; therefore, it is recommended that with better information, the eligible patients be treated at an early age.