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The predictive value of idiopathic failure to fertilize on the first in vitro fertilization attempt
D Molloy1, K Harrison, T Breen
1Queensland Fertility Group, Watkins Medical Centre, Brisbane, Australia.
Objective:
To investigate the subsequent performance of patients with idiopathic fertilization failure on the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
Design:
A retrospective study of 2,322 consecutive patients undergoing their initial IVF cycle.
Setting:
Advanced infertility treatment in an IVF/general infertility clinic.
Patients:
In 5 years, 94 couples with unexplained failed oocyte fertilization had 270 cycles of treatment. Each couple's performance was tracked through subsequent cycles of treatment.
Interventions:
In vitro fertilization with husband and donor sperm.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Investigated retrospectively after 5 years of data collection.
Results:
Sixty-five couples of the original 94 had a second IVF attempt. Fifty of these successfully fertilized oocytes with husband's sperm and 4 with donor sperm. Nineteen of the 65 couples who continued treatment achieved a pregnancy, and only one couple had continuing fertilization failure.
Conclusions:
The prognosis in the study group was surprisingly favorable despite the initial failed IVF treatment cycle.