Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In vitro fertilization in women age 40 and older: The impact of assisted hatching

  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the impact of assisted hatching on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome in women age 40 and older.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed to compare 28 cycles of IVF without assisted hatching to 38 cycles of IVF with assisted hatching. All patients in both groups were age 40 or older and the mean age was similar.

Results

The delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was significantly higher in the assisted hatching group (18/38; 48%) compared to the nonhatched controls (3/28; 11%, P=0.0003). The implantation rate of hatched embryos (40/175; 22%) was clearly enhanced, compared to the non-hatched embryos (7/126; 6%, P<0.001). The fertilization rate, number of oocytes and the number of embryos per patient were comparable in the two groups.

Conclusions

Assisted hatching dramatically improves embryonic implantation and term pregnancy rates in women age 40 and older undergoing IVF.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Medical Research International, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), The American Fertility Society. In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in the United States: 1990 results from the IVF-ET Registry. Fertil Steril 1992;57:15–24

    Google Scholar 

  2. AIHW National Perinatal Statistics Unit. Sydney (1992); ISSN 1020-7234, Assisted Conception Australia and New Zealand, 1990

  3. Fivnat, preparé par Belaisch-Allard J, de Mouzon J et al: Fécondation in vitro aprés 40 ans. Contracept Fertil Sex 1993;5:367–370

    Google Scholar 

  4. Padilla SL, Garcia JE: Effect of maternal age and number of in vitro fertilization procedures on pregnancy outcome. Fertil Steril 1989;52:270–273

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Romeu A, Muasher SJ, Acosta AA, Veeck LL, Diaz J, Jones GS, Jones HW Jr., Rosenwaks Z: Results of in vitro fertilization attempts in 40 years of age and older: The Norfolk experience. Fertil Steril 1986;47:130–136

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cohen J, Eisner C, Kort H, Malter H, Massey J, Mayer MP, Weimer K: Impairment of the hatching process following IVF in the human and improvement of implantation by assisted hatching using micromanipulation. Hum Reprod 1990;5:7–13

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cohen J, Alikani M, Trowbridge J, Rosenwaks Z: Implantation enhancement by selective assisted hatching using zona drilling of human embryos with poor prognosis. Hum Reprod 1992;7:685–691

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Schoolcraft WB, Schlenker T, Gee M, Jones GS, Jones HW Jr: Assisted hatching in the treatment of poor prognosis in vitro fertilization candidates. Fertil Steril 1994;62:551–553

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Meldrum DR, Chetkowski R, Steingold KH, de Ziegler D, Ceadars MI, Hamilton M: Evolution of a highly successful in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program. Fertil Steril 1987;48:86–93

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cohen J: Zona pellucida micromanipulation and consequences for embryonic development.In Micromanipulation of Human Gametes and Embryos, J Cohen, HE Malter, BE Talansky, J Grifo (eds). New York, Raven Press, 1992, p 140

    Google Scholar 

  11. Plachot M, Junca AM, Mandelbaum J, de Grouchy J, Salat-Baroux I, Cohen J: Chromosome investigations in early life. II. Human preimplantation embryos. Hum Reprod 1987;2:29–35

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Warburton D, Hine J, Stein Zet al: Cytogenetic Abnormalities in Spontaneous Abortions of Recognized Conceptions: Diagnosis and Treatment. Porter, AH and Wiley, A (eds). New York, Academic Press, 1986, p 133

    Google Scholar 

  13. Meldrum DR: Female reproductive aging: Ovarian and uterine factors. Fertil Steril 1993;59:1–5

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Liu HC, Cohen J, Alikani M, Noyes N, Rosenwaks Z: Assisted Hatching facilitates earlier implantation. Fertil Steril 1993;60:871–875

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Van Blerkom J: ATP content of human oocytes and developmental potential and outcome after IVF-ET. Hum Reprod 1994;in press.

  16. Cohen J: Syllabus for 7th Annual In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer: A Comprehensive Update. The Office of Continuing Medical Education, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 1994, pp 533–534

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Center for Reproductive Medicine, 799 E. Hampden Avenue, Suite 300, 80110, Englewood, Colorado

    William B. Schoolcraft, Terry Schlenker & Georgeanna S. Jones

  2. The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Norfolk, Virginia

    Howard W. Jones Jr.

Authors
  1. William B. Schoolcraft
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Terry Schlenker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Georgeanna S. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Howard W. Jones Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schoolcraft, W.B., Schlenker, T., Jones, G.S. et al. In vitro fertilization in women age 40 and older: The impact of assisted hatching. J Assist Reprod Genet 12, 581–584 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212578

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212578

Key words

Search

Navigation