Impaired Uterine Receptivity in Infertile Women over Age 40 having Oocyte Donation and Correction with Increased Progesterone Replacement

Abstract

Significantly fewer ongoing and delivered pregnancies occurred in infertile women aged >40 years receiving oocyte donation from young normal women (8%, P<0.02) than in a similar group of younger recipients receiving identical treatment (43%). A significant improvement (46Yo ongoing and delivered, P<0.01) was achieved in another group of women over 40, treated with a doubled dose of progesterone. The results are consistent with those observed in animal studies and suggest an effect of ageing on uterine receptivity that is at least partly correctable by augmented progesterone stimulation of the endometrium.