title: Natural-cycle in vitro fertilization in poor responder patients: a survey of 500 consecutive cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of the natural cycle for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in poor responder patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private center for assisted reproduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  294 women who were poor responders in a previous IVF cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of 500 consecutive natural cycles IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of cycles with oocytes, pregnancy rate per cycle, per transfer, and implantation rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oocytes were found in 391 cases (78.1%), and cleaving embryos suitable for transfer were obtained in 285 cycles (57.0%). Pregnancy was observed in 49 cases, with a pregnancy rate of 9.8% per cycle, 17.1% per transfer, and 16.7% per patient. The patients were subdivided arbitrarily by the women's age into three groups. Patients 35 years old or younger showed a pregnancy rate of 18.1% per cycle, 29.2% per transfer, and 31.7% per patient. Women aged between 36 and 39 years showed a pregnancy rate of 11.7% per cycle, 20.6% per transfer, and 20.3% per patient. Women 40 years old or older showed a pregnancy rate of 5.8% per cycle, 10.5% per transfer, and 9.7% per patient. No differences were found for any of the evaluated parameters, independent of which cycle was the first, the second, third, fourth, or fifth, or further consecutive cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In poor responder patients, natural-cycle IVF is an effective treatment, especially in younger women.
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schimberni
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morgia
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colabianchi
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giallonardo
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piscitelli
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.affiliation: Bioroma Centro di Riproduzione Assistita Casa di Cura "Paideia", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montigiani
authors.affiliation: Center for Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine (CERM), Rome, Italy. Electronic address: marcandrea@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sbracia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008423:Maternal Age; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure