Defective oocytes as a possible cause of infertility in a beta-thalassaemia major patient.

Impaired reproduction is common among patients afflicted with beta-thalassaemia major and is attributed mainly to the deposition of haemosiderin in the pituitary gland and ovaries. In-vitro fertilization (IVF)--embryo transfer cycles including ovum donation cycles are described for the first time in a patient with beta-thalassaemia major. The patient's oocytes were not fertilized by the husband's sperm in repeated IVF attempts. However, when donated oocytes were used, in two consecutive cycles, most were fertilized by the husband, yielding pregnancies after each embryo transfer. It is suggested that in this case of beta-thalassaemia major, impaired oocyte function contributed to infertility. However, a possible association between thalassaemia major and defective oocytes should be tested on a basis of additional IVF-embryo transfer cycles in these patients.