Oocyte donation in menopausal women aged over 40 years

In order to investigate the pregnancy potential of menopausal women over 40 years of age by use of donor eggs, we retrospectively analysed the results of our ovum donation programme. Forty-one clinical pregnancies were established in 134 recipient cycles. The recipients were divided into three age groups (40-43, 44-47 and > or = 48 years) in order to investigate the implantation rate with respect to age. The 30.6% pregnancy rate per embryo transfer cycle and 9.7% implantation rate per embryo appeared to be constant in all age groups studied. Fourteen pregnancies ended in miscarriage, there was one ectopic pregnancy and 25 healthy babies have been delivered. The oldest woman to deliver was 54 years of age. This report highlights the question of age limit for application of the new reproductive technologies, and especially of oocyte donation.