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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Mar;40(3):617-626.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-023-02714-1. Epub 2023 Jan 18.

Does paternal age affect the live birth rate in donor oocyte cycles? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Emmanuelle Begon  1 , Tiphaine Lefebvre  2 , Elisangela Arbo  3 , Sarah Bouée  4 , Bernadette Darné  5 , Frédérique Jaffré  6 , Solène Languille  5 , Dikra Mellouhi  5 , Jean-Christophe Pont  7 , Noémie Rousset  3 , Thomas Fréour  8   9   10
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Does paternal age affect the live birth rate in donor oocyte cycles? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Emmanuelle Begon et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: While delayed parenthood is increasing worldwide, the effect of paternal age on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes remains unclear. The egg donation model appears to be relevant to studying the independent impact of paternal age on clinical outcome, but the available studies are heterogeneous and contradictory. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the relationship between paternal age and live birth rate (LBR) in egg donation cycles.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to June 30, 2021. All studies on egg donation cycles where LBR is reported according to male age were included. Study selection, bias assessment, and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers according to the Cochrane methods.

Results: Eleven studies involving 10,527 egg donation cycles were finally included. The meta-analysis showed a slight but significant and linear decrease in LBR with increasing paternal age (estimate - 0.0055; 95% CI (- 0.0093; - 0.0016), p = 0.006), with low heterogeneity (I2 = 25%). No specific threshold was identified. A similar trend toward decreased clinical pregnancy rate with advancing paternal age was found but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates that increasing paternal age is associated with a slight but significant and linear decrease in the live birth rate in egg donation cycles, with no apparent threshold effect. Although this requires further confirmation, this information is important for counseling men who are considering delayed childbearing.

Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology; Live birth; Meta-analysis; Oocyte donation; Paternal age.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests..

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the search and selection strategy in a systematic review and meta-analysis of LBR by paternal age in donor oocyte cycles
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Line chart of the primary outcome for each study included using raw data
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Linear and nonlinear models of the primary outcome after meta-analysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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