Effect of Paternal Age on Miscarriage Rates in Couples Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of paternal age on miscarriage rates in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment cycles. Material and Methods: Patients were classified into two groups. The study group consisted of the patients whose pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage (n=73) and a control group in which the patients had a live singleton birth (n=256). Demographic characteristics, treatment indications, duration of infertility, menstruation day 3 follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, total antral follicle count, anti-Mullerian hormone levels and controlled ovarian stimulation parameters, day of trigger, estradiol and progesterone levels on the day of trigger, the total number of oocytes retrieved, the number of mature oocytes, the number and quality of the embryo, endometrial thickness on the day of trigger, oocyte pick up and embryo transfer, the distance of embryo-fundus and the day of embryo transfer were recorded. Results: Totally 329 women were included in the present study. The number of patients with the diagnosis of unexplained infertility was statistically significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p=0.020). Maternal age was found statistically significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p=0.025). When maternal age increased by 1 unit, the risk of miscarriage increased by 8.7% and those with unexplained infertility had a 75.6% higher risk of miscarriage than those without unexplained infertility. Conclusion: Paternal age was not associated with miscarriage whereas maternal age and unexplained infertility had a positive correlation with miscarriage rate.