Study on high FSH and aneuploidy

Relationship between women's age and basal follicle-stimulating hormone levels with aneuploidy risk in in vitro fertilization treatment

Objective
To assess the relationship of age and basal FSH level to the genetic quality of the embryo and the association with IVF treatment outcome.

Patient(s)
One hundred fifty-one women who underwent IVF treatmentcycles in conjunction with preimplantation genetic diagnosis for aneuploidy screening before fresh embryo transfer, between July 2003 and July 2005.

Intervention(s)
Basal FSH levels (days 2–4) were determined at an earlier cycle, and women were divided into two groups: high basal FSH (greater than or equal to 10 IU/L) and low basal FSH (less than 10 IU/L). Chromosome analysis was performed on a single blastomere by using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Main Outcome Measure(s)
Percentage of aneuploid embryos.

Result(s)The percentage of aneuploid embryos was not statistically significantly different between the high– (50.0%, n = 32) and low– (50.2%, n = 119) basal FSH groups. However, the percentage of aneuploid embryos was statistically significantly higher (56.2%, n = 109) for women aged greater than or equalto 38 years, as compared with women less than 38 years of age (37.5%, n = 42), independent of basal FSH levels.

Conclusion(s)
Elevated basal FSH levels reflect lower ovarian reserve but have no association with genetic quality of embryos. The percentage of aneuploid embryos is increased with advanced maternal age.

Source: Relationship between women's age and basal follicle-stimulating hormone levels with aneuploidy risk in in vitro fertilization treatment, Fertility and Sterility, August 2008

Category: aneuploidies, FSH, genomic imprinting abnormalities, IVF, pre-implantation genetic screening