In vitro fertilization ICSI/ET in women over 40

Objective: Assessment of effectiveness of ICSI/ET in vitro fertilization in a group of women over 40.
Material and methods: Retrospective research has been conducted to analyse the data of more than six thousand patients of the Department of Fertility and Gynaecological Endocrinology in Białystok, who underwent the IVF ICSI/ET procedure in the years 1996-2004.
Results: The number of IVF ICSI/ET procedures which were carried out in the Department of Fertility and Gynaecological Endocrinology in Białystok varied between 570 and 770 in one year (except 2004, when the number was significantly smaller). The effectiveness of the treatment within the analysed group of patients increased from 21% in 1996 to 28% in 2004. The average value was 26% in the whole period analysed. In patients over 40 the effectiveness varied between 8 and 18%, and the average value in that group was 12%. Conclusions: The effectiveness of infertility treatment with the IVF ICSI/ET procedure considerably decreases in women over 40. The improvement of the effectiveness achieved by refining the method only to a limited degree concerns women over 40. It is therefore necessary to educate women in order to rationalize their reproductive decisions. The diagnostic process should not delay the initiation of treatment more than really necessary. It is also crucial that the potential effects should justify the risk made and costs incurred.