title: Comparison of mild ovarian stimulation with conventional ovarian stimulation in poor responders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the IVF outcomes of mild ovarian stimulation with conventional ovarian stimulation in poor responders.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2004 to 2009, 389 IVF cycles in 285 women showed poor responses (defined as either a basal FSH level ≥12 mIU/mL, or the number of retrieved oocytes ≤3, or serum E(2) level on hCG day <500 pg/mL) were analyzed, retrospectively. In total, 119 cycles with mild ovarian stimulation (m-IVF) and 270 cycles with conventional ovarian stimulation (c-IVF) were included. Both groups were divided based on their age, into groups over and under 37 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The m-IVF group was lower than the c-IVF group in the duration of stimulation, total doses of gonadotropins used, serum E(2) level on hCG day, the number of retrieved oocytes, and the number of mature oocytes. However, there was no significant difference in the number of good embryos, the number of transferred embryos, the cancellation rate, or the clinical pregnancy rate. In the m-IVF group over 37 years old, the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were higher when compared with the c-IVF group, but this result was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In poor responder groups, mild ovarian stimulation is more cost effective and patient friendly than conventional IVF. Therefore, we suggest that mild ovarian stimulation could be considered for poor responders over 37 years old.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Sun Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Chan Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwang Moon
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: In Ok
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Mi Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Koong
authors.forename: Inn Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hye Ok
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kim