Kumulative schwangerschaftsraten und therapieabbrüche bei patientinnen ≥40 jahren: 394 Zyklen bei 151 patientinnen

Cumulative pregnancy rates are useful when counselling couples about their chance of conceiving during infertility treatment. Especially in older patients who have a lower chance of conceiving cumulative pregnancy rates are important. Patients also have to be counselled about the physical and psychological stress of infertility treatment. In addition to the pregnancy rates, drop-out rates are a direct - and maybe the most important - marker of the physician's quality in an IVF program. Data of 394 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in 151 patients aged ≥ 40 years were analysed retrospectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics as well as the Kaplan Meier procedure. A real cumulative pregnancy rate (RCPR) of 17.2% was achieved after 4 cycles with an expected cumulative pregnancy rate (ECPR) of 35.4%. In patients aged 40-42 years a RCPR of 20.6% with an ECPR of 38.7% was reached, while the chances to conceive decreased rapidly after the age of 43 years (RCPR 12.1%). A drop-out rate of non-pregnant patients of 42.6-51.4% was observed after each cycle. Especially patients ≥ 40 years have to be counselled individually about their specific chances to conceive. The drop-out rate should be used as an important marker of quality control.