Factors useful in predicting the success of oocyte donation: a 3-year retrospective analysis

Abstract

Objective: To establish prognostic relevance of parameters assessed in oocyte donation cycles. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Large university-based donor oocyte program. Patient(s): All oocyte recipient cycles achieving embryo transfer from September 1995 to October 1998. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy. Result(s): Recipient age and reproductive status, day 9 and 12 serum estradiol (E 2) levels and a progesterone (P) level obtained 2 days after initiation of hormonal therapy did not correlate with pregnancy. Endometrial thickness, but not endometrial pattern, was useful in predicting pregnancy outcome. The clinical pregnancy and live-birth rate in cycles where the endometrial thickness was less than 8 mm was significantly lower when compared to cycles with an endometrial thickness ≥9 mm. Cycles where optimal quality embryos were transferred had the highest implantation (36%), clinical pregnancy (63%) and live birth (54%) rates and these rates were significantly higher than those of cycles where only poor quality embryos were available for transfer (10% implantation, 17% clinical pregnancy, and 8% live birth rates, respectively; P<.05). Conclusion(s): The most reliable predictive factors for pregnancy in oocyte donation cycles are the quality of the embryos transferred and the recipient’s mid-cycle endometrial thickness. Recipient monitoring should minimally include ultrasound assessment of endometrial thickness.