REVIEW   

Minerva Ginecologica 2018 December;70(6):738-49

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4784.18.04247-8

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Assisted reproductive technique in women of advanced fertility age

Paolo G. ARTINI, Maria E. OBINO ✉, Francesca VERGINE, Claudia SERGIAMPIETRI, Francesca PAPINI, Vito CELA

Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Over the past four decades, the postponement of childbearing has continued to increase, significantly impacting the age of first-time mothers. Female age is the most significant factor influencing clinical outcome in in-vitro fertilization. To overcome the limits of the age-related decline of fertility is a challenge for fertility experts. In the decrease of fertility in late reproductive age, a lot of factors related with advancing women’s age and general health can be considered, however the dominant regulator of this age-dependent loss of fertility is the ovary. The key factors in the ovarian aging are oxidative stress, abnormalities of the meiotic spindle, decrease of function and number of oocyte mitochondria, alteration of sirtuins and androgen deficiency. The aim of this review was to assess the main biological factors involved in the female reproductive ageing according to the recent literature, focusing on oocyte-dependent ones, as well as the possible therapeutic strategies in assisted reproductive technique.

KEY WORDS: Reproductive techniques, assisted - Fertility - Aging