Menstrual cycle length is an age-independent marker of female fertility: results from 6271 treatment cycles of in vitro fertilization

Brodin, Thomas; Bergh, Torbjörn; Berglund, Lars; Hadziosmanovic, Nermin; Holte, Jan

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.09.036

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Volume 90, Issue 5 , Pages 1656-1661, November 2008

Menstrual cycle length is an age-independent marker of female fertility: results from 6271 treatment cycles of in vitro fertilization

Thomas Brodin, M.D.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Eskilstuna, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Reprint requests: T. Brodin, M.D., Mälarsjukhuset, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, S-631 88 Eskilstuna, Sweden (FAX: +46-16104378).
Torbjörn Bergh, M.D., Ph.D.
- Carl von Linné Clinic, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden
Lars Berglund, M.Sc.
- Uppsala Clinical Research Center, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden
Nermin Hadziosmanovic, M.Sc.
- Carl von Linné Clinic, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden
Jan Holte, M.D., Ph.D.
- Carl von Linné Clinic, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Received 26 February 2007; received in revised form 14 September 2007; accepted 14 September 2007. published online 21 December 2007.

Objective

To investigate whether menstrual cycle length correlates with success rates at IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and could be used as a marker of ovarian reserve.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Private infertility centre.

Patient(s)

A total of 6271 IVF/ICSI treatment cycles.

Intervention(s)

Self-reported mean number of menstrual days during the last year was recorded before initiation of IVF/ICSI treatment.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Relations between menstrual cycle length and pregnancy and delivery rates.

Result(s)

Increasing age was associated with a subtle shortening of mean menstrual cycle length. Menstrual cycle length correlated linearly with pregnancy and delivery rates, even after age adjustment. The chance of delivery after IVF/ICSI was almost doubled for women with a menstrual cycle length >34 days compared with women with a menstrual cycle length <26 days. Menstrual cycle length was also significantly associated with ovarian response to FSH/hMG stimulation and embryo quality.

Conclusion(s)

Mean menstrual cycle length is highly related to success rates in assisted reproduction, independently of age. A precise menstrual cycle history could be used as a simple marker of ovarian reserve.

Key Words: Fecundity, female age, infertility, IVF, menstrual cycle, ovarian reserve