Pregnancy rates in donor oocyte cycles compared to similar autologous in vitro fertilization cycles: an analysis of 26,457 fresh cycles from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology

Objective To use a large US IVF database and compare pregnancy outcomes in fresh donor oocyte versus autologous IVF cycles in women age 20–30 years. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Women undergoing fresh autologous ovarian stimulation, and oocyte donors and recipients in the United States between 2008 and 2010. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Implantation, clinical pregnancy (CP), and live birth (LB) rates. Result(s) Despite similar demographics, stimulation, and embryo parameters, donor oocyte recipients had significantly higher rates of implantation, CP, and LB compared to those undergoing fresh autologous cycles. Odds ratios for implantation, CP, and LB significantly favored the donor oocyte group in all comparisons, including those limited to intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, intracytoplasmic sperm injection with male factor, unexplained infertility, cleavage stage embryo transfer, blastocyst transfer, elective single blastocyst transfer, and autologous patients with prior tubal ligation. Conclusion(s) Recent US data suggest that the hormonal environment resulting from autologous ovarian stimulation lowers IVF success rates. Further research is needed to determine when to avoid fresh embryo transfer in autologous patients.