title: Cumulative live-birth rate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or isolated polycystic ovaries undergoing in-vitro fertilisation treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective cohort study evaluated the cumulative live birth rate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and isolated polycystic ovaries (PCO) undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 104 women with PCOS, 184 with PCO and 576 age-matched controls undergoing the first IVF treatment cycle between 2002 and 2009. The main outcome measure was cumulative live birth in the fresh plus all the frozen embryo transfers combined after the same stimulation cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women in both the PCOS (n = 104) and isolated PCO groups (n = 184) had higher ovarian response parameters compared to age-matched controls (n = 576), and higher rates of withholding fresh embryo transfer for risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The actual incidence of moderate to severe OHSS was significantly higher in the PCOS (11.5 %) but not the isolated PCO group (8.2%) compared to controls (4.9%). The live birth rates in the fresh cycle were comparable among the 3 groups, but the PCOS group had a significantly higher miscarriage rate compared to the other 2 groups. Cumulative live birth rate was significantly higher in the isolated PCO group (60.3%), but not the PCOS group (50.0%), compared to controls (47.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women in the isolated PCO group, but not the PCOS group, had a significantly higher cumulative live birth rate compared to controls. This could be explained by the quantitative effect of the higher number of transferable embryos obtained per stimulation cycle, which is uncompromised by the unfavourable embryo competence otherwise observed in PCOS.
authors: Centre of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, raymondli@hku.hk.
authors: Hang Wun Raymond
authors: HW
authors: Li
authors: Vivian Chi Yan
authors: VC
authors: Lee
authors: Estella Yee Lan
authors: EY
authors: Lau
authors: William Shu Biu
authors: WS
authors: Yeung
authors: Pak Chung
authors: PC
authors: Ho
authors: Ernest Hung Yu
authors: EH
authors: Ng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies