Success of donor oocyte in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in recipients with and without premature ovarian failure

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of donor oocyte in IVF-ET in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) versus those (non-POF) with other indications for donor oocyte IVF-ET. Design: Retrospective comparative clinical study. Setting: University-based NF-ET facility. Patients: Eighty-six donor oocyte IVF-ET cycles from 32 POF patients (39 cycles) and 38 non-POF patients (47 cycles). Interventions: Fertile oocyte donors, age 19 to 38 years, were given luteal phase GnRH agonist, gonadotropins, and hCG. Recipients were given transdermal 17 beta-E(2) and P in oil. Main Outcome Measures: Donor and recipient age, characteristics of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, oocytes retrieved, embryos frozen and transferred, and percentage with male factor infertility; fertilization rate, implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy rate (PR) per cycle and per transfer. Results: Given limitations of sample size, there were no detectable differences in clinical PR per cycle and per transfer, fertilization rate, and implantation rate between POF and non-POF groups despite recognizable differences in recipient age and degree of male factor infertility. Conclusions: Donor oocyte IVF-ET success rates were not different in patients with and without POF. Age-related changes in oocyte quality, rather than uterine senescence, is a major factor for the age-related decline in fertility.