The Impact of Maternal Age on Chromosomal Aneuploidy, Blastocyst Quality, and Pregnancy Outcomes During Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles

Background & Objective: Assisted reproduction techniques and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for aneuploidies help infertile couples achieve a healthy live birth. The objective of this study was to investigate if there is a correlation between chromosomal aneuploidy and maternal age. Materials & Methods: We used ۲۷۷ embryos with ۶-۸ cells and graded A derived from intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. There were two subgroups: fresh-PGT cycles (n = ۳۸) and Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cycles (n = ۳۸). The PGT cycles results were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction assays. Couples (n = ۷۶) with PGT on the third day were classified into four maternal age groups: ≤۳۵ years (n = ۳۵), ۳۶-۴۰ years (n = ۲۴), ۴۱-۴۵ years (n = ۱۱), and ≥۴۶ years (n = ۶). The rate of aneuploidy, blastocyst quality, and pregnancy was assessed in FET and fresh-PGT cycle. Results: Aneuploidy rate in ۱۳, ۱۸, ۲۱, X, and Y chromosomes in FET and fresh-PGT cycles are not significantly related to maternal age (p = ۰.۱). Significant differences were found in a decreased chemical pregnancy (p = ۰.۰۰۱), clinical pregnancy (p = ۰.۰۰۱), ongoing pregnancy (p = ۰.۰۰۱), and live birth rate (p = ۰.۰۰۱) among both groups. Decreased blastocyst rate increased maternal age in fresh PGT and FET PGT (p = ۰.۰۲). Early and clinical pregnancy loss was not related significantly to maternal age. Conclusion: After evaluating cycle characteristics, an association was found between maternal age and declined pregnancy outcomes in embryos. There was a significant relationship between increasing female age with decreasing blastocyst rate.

Keywords:

Blastocyst Quality , Pregnancy Outcomes , Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles , Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization , Preimplantation Genetic Testing