Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2011 Sep;38(3):159-163. 10.5653/cerm.2011.38.3.159.

Comparison of mild ovarian stimulation with conventional ovarian stimulation in poor responders

• Yoo JH
• Cha SH
• Park CW
• Kim JY
• Yang KM
• Song IO
• Koong MK
• Kang IS
• Kim HO

• KMID: 1973533
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2011.38.3.159

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the IVF outcomes of mild ovarian stimulation with conventional ovarian stimulation in poor responders.
METHODS
From 2004 to 2009, 389 IVF cycles in 285 women showed poor responses (defined as either a basal FSH level > or =12 mIU/mL, or the number of retrieved oocytes < or =3, or serum E2 level on hCG day <500 pg/mL) were analyzed, retrospectively. In total, 119 cycles with mild ovarian stimulation (m-IVF) and 270 cycles with conventional ovarian stimulation (c-IVF) were included. Both groups were divided based on their age, into groups over and under 37 years old.
RESULTS
The m-IVF group was lower than the c-IVF group in the duration of stimulation, total doses of gonadotropins used, serum E2 level on hCG day, the number of retrieved oocytes, and the number of mature oocytes. However, there was no significant difference in the number of good embryos, the number of transferred embryos, the cancellation rate, or the clinical pregnancy rate. In the m-IVF group over 37 years old, the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were higher when compared with the c-IVF group, but this result was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
In poor responder groups, mild ovarian stimulation is more cost effective and patient friendly than conventional IVF. Therefore, we suggest that mild ovarian stimulation could be considered for poor responders over 37 years old.

Keyword

Mild Ovarian Stimulation; Poor Response; In Vitro Fertilization; Human

MeSH Terms

Embryonic Structures
Female
Fertilization in Vitro
Gonadotropins
Humans
Live Birth
Oocytes
Ovulation Induction
Pregnancy Rate
Retrospective Studies
Gonadotropins