Poor response to ovarian stimulation for assisted reproduction treatment is a therapeutic challenge. Oocyte donation may be unacceptable to some patients, and many couples opt to continue with treatment despite low follicle numbers. Minimal data are available regarding conception rates in poor responders who elect to undergo oocyte retrieval. This study summarizes the outcome of assisted reproduction treatment in poor responders who produced four or fewer oocytes during ovarian stimulation, in order to provide better counselling to such patients in the future. Embryo transfers were performed in 208 of 300 cycles demonstrating poor ovarian response. Pregnancy rate (PR) (15.9%) was significantly higher in patients in whom four oocytes were retrieved, compared with patients in whom one or two oocytes were retrieved (2.3 and 4.3% respectively). Younger patients (< or =34 years) had significantly higher PR (19.5%) compared with older patients (> or =35 and < or =39 years, PR 7.2% and > or =40 years, PR 1.5% respectively). One hundred and twenty-six age-matched normal responders in whom three embryos were transferred had higher implantation rates (15.3%) and PR (37.3%) compared with poor responders in whom three embryos were transferred (6.6 and 16.6% respectively; P < 0.05). In this regard, patient age, number of oocytes retrieved and number of embryos available for transfer determine prognosis for the success of IVF in patients who respond to ovarian stimulation with four or fewer follicles for assisted reproduction treatment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.