title: A controlled trial of natural cycle versus microdose gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog flare cycles in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of natural-cycle IVF compared with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in poor responders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private center for assisted reproduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-nine women who were poor responders in a previous IVF cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine women underwent 114 attempts of natural-cycle IVF, and 70 women underwent 101 attempts of IVF with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with microdose GnRH analog flare.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of oocytes retrieved, pregnancy rate (PR) per cycle, PR per transfer, and implantation rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The poor responders treated with natural-cycle IVF and those treated with micro-GnRH analog flare showed similar PRs per cycle and per transfer. The women treated with natural-cycle IVF showed a statistically significant higher implantation rate (14.9%) compared with controls (5.5%). When subdivided into three groups according to age (<or=35 years, >or=36-39 years, >or=40 years), younger patients had a better PR than the other two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In poor responders, natural-cycle IVF is at least as effective as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, especially in younger patients, with a better implantation rate.
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morgia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sbracia
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schimberni
authors.forename: Annalise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giallonardo
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piscitelli
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aragona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002064:Buserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D019233:Retreatment; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D002064:Buserelin