Patients with three or less dominant follicles may not be associated with reduced pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The management of poor ovarian responders remains a great challenge in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. This study compared implantation and pregnancy rates among women who developed <or=3 dominant follicles of >or=16 mm in diameter and those who had >3 dominant follicles after ovarian stimulation.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


RESULTS
Out of 911 consecutive patients receiving ovarian stimulation between January 2000 and December 2002, 894 (98.1%) patients underwent oocyte retrieval. Women with <or=3 dominant follicles were significantly older, required a longer duration and a higher dosage of gonadotrophin but produced lesser number of developing follicles, number of oocytes aspirated and number of embryos frozen when compared with those with >3 dominant follicles. Despite a significantly higher percentage of non-elective single embryo transfer in women with <or=3 dominant follicles, implantation rate, pregnancy rate and pregnancy outcomes were comparable for women with <or=3 and >3 dominant follicles.


CONCLUSIONS
Implantation and pregnancy rates appeared to be comparable for women who developed <or=3 and >3 dominant follicles during IVF treatment.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, PR China. nghye@hkucc.hku.hk
Ernest H Y
EH
Ng
William S B
WS
Yeung
Pak C
PC
Ho
D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone