title: Alternative approaches in the management of poor response in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).
abstract: Improving pregnancy rates in patients with many failed attempts remains a challenge during IVF-ET or ICSI-ET programs. The availability of good-quality oocytes is a prerequisite for good results in such programs. The use of a personalized protocol for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) that gives the best possible results for the specific patient is a main factor for the success in IVF or ICSI. The response of many patients to the ovarian stimulation used is very poor, giving fewer oocytes than expected, resulting in much lower, if any, pregnancy rates. The definition of a poor responder is not clear and differs among researchers. A variety of strategies have been used to improve response in these patients, regardless of the definition used. These include various ovulation induction protocols that we believe might assist these patients achieve a pregnancy. The difficulty is greater due to the fact that poor responders are not a homogeneous group and each patient may have a different cause. More studies with large numbers of patients are needed in order to find those protocols that could provide these couples with an acceptable pregnancy rate.
authors.affiliation: 1st Dept OB/GYN, Athens University Medical School, Alexandria Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loutradis
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drakakis
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milingos
authors.forename: Konstantine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michalas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends*; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone