Blastocyst euploidy and implantation rates in a young (<35 years) and old (≥35 years) presumed fertile and infertile patient population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between blastocyst euploidy and implantation rates in a presumed fertile patient population.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis.

SETTING: Private IVF clinic.

PATIENT(S): IVF patients undergoing comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS).

INTERVENTION(S): Embryo biopsy at the blastocyst stage with preimplantation genetic screening using CCS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Euploidy, chemical pregnancy, and implantation rates.

RESULT(S): There was no significant difference in the number of euploid blastocysts between presumed fertile (68/118, 57.6%) and infertile (75/132, 56.8%) patients<35 years old. Likewise, there was no significant difference in the number of euploid blastocysts between presumed fertile (42/86, 48.8%) and infertile (97/206, 47.1%) patients≥35 years old. When those same patients underwent a corresponding frozen embryo transfer cycle, presumed fertile patients demonstrated a significantly higher chemical pregnancy rate when compared with infertile patients, 28/33 (84.8%) and 50/81 (61.7%), respectively. Moreover, presumed fertile patients exhibited significantly higher implantation rates compared with infertile patients, 36/42 (85.7%) and 54/109 (66.7%), respectively.

CONCLUSION(S): When subdivided by maternal age, no significant difference was seen in blastocyst euploidy rates between presumed fertile and infertile patients; however, chemical pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly higher in a presumed fertile patient population even when transferring only euploid blastocysts. This would indicate that infertility, as a disease, may encompass other aspects such as uterine or other unknown embryological factors that can influence outcomes.