title: Demographic characteristics and clinical profile of poor responders in IVF / ICSI: A comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian response varies considerably among individuals and depends on various factors. Poor response in IVF yields lesser oocytes and is associated with poorer pregnancy perspective. Cycle cancellation due to poor response is frustrating for both clinician and the patient. Studies have shown that women conceiving after poor ovarian response have more pregnancy complications like PIH and preeclampsia than women with normal ovarian response. In addition, poor ovarian response could be a predictor of early menopause. This paper studies various demographic and clinical profiles of poor responders and tries to look at the known and unknown factors which could contribute to poor ovarian response in IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected retrospectively from 104 poor responders who had less than four oocytes at retrieval and compared with 324 good responders for factors like age, BMI, type of sub fertility, duration of sub fertility, environmental factors like stress at work, smoking, pelvic surgery, chronic medical disorder, indication of IVF, basal FSH, mean age of menopause in their mothers etc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the poor responders, 60.57% were above 35 years of age compared to 36.41% in control group, which is statistically significant. Mean age of menopause in mother was found to be four years earlier in poor responder group. Male factor and unexplained infertility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in good responders (P<0.05). Significant proportion (31.73%) of women in study group had undergone some pelvic surgery (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apart from age, prior pelvic surgery also could be used as predictors for poor ovarian response. Heredity also plays a major role in determining ovarian response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai - 600 037, India.
authors.forename: Nabaneeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Padhy
authors.forename: Shalu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Asmita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latha
authors.forename: Thangam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varma