Reproductive potential of couples of older reproductive age who have experienced the heavy loss of children as a result of hostilities
Tatevik Kirakosyan1, Eduard Hambartsoumian1,2
1 Fertility Center
2 National Institute of Health of Armenia. Department Human Reproduction (Yerevan, Armenia)
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of our study was to analyze the reproductive outcome of couples who lost their sons during the Armenian-Azerbaijani war and came to our clinic with the aim of becoming parents again.
Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of the reproductive outcomes of couples who lost their sons during the war was conducted at the Fertility Center in Armenia. From the beginning of 2021 to 2024, 252 couples applied to our clinic. IVF was performed to 215 of them. 83 couples underwent IVF with their own eggs, 132 couples with donor eggs. The average age of women in the first group was 42.4 ± 5.6 years, in the second group 46.3± 8.1 ±years. In both groups, the preparation of the uterus for embryo transfer was done with HRT. In both groups we analyzed clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, cumulative live birth rate and mean time to pregnancy.
Results: The results of the study showed that out of 215 couples who participated in the IVF program for two years, at the time of the analysis, 97 women (44.1%) became pregnant. As a result of IVF treatment, pregnancy occurred in 87 (40.4%) women. Of the total number of pregnancies, 33 (34%) ended in early miscarriages. The cumulative live birth rate in group A, despite the younger age of women who used their own eggs, was extremely low (only 4.9%). In general, 53 live births (24.6%) were recorded in both groups. The median time to pregnancy was 7 ± 4.4 months in the first group and 11.6 ± 4.8 months in the second group.
Conclusion: Despite the severe tragedy experienced by a married couple, with the availability of qualified medical care, the use of all possible methods of reproductive medicine and adequate financial support from the state, it is possible to achieve positive reproductive outcomes.