title: Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone administration in patients with poor ovarian response according to the Bologna criteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is now widely used as an adjuvant to IVF treatment protocols in poor responders. However, clinical evidence for DHEA on improvement of ovarian response and IVF outcome is still limited, the validity of the results of the earlier studies, especially the varied inclusion criteria, is a subject of debate. Recently, the ESHRE Working Group developed a new definition, the Bologna criteria. The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential effect of DHEA treatment on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome of poor ovarian responders that fulfill the Bologna criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated 386 poor ovarian responders that fulfill the Bologna criteria. Patients underwent IVF-ET treatment with the GnRH antagonist protocol. The study group contained 189 patients, who received 75 mg of DHEA daily (25 mg three times daily) before the IVF cycle. The control group was composed of 197 patients who received infertility treatment, but did not receive DHEA. The IVF outcome parameters in each group were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study and control groups did not show statistically significant differences in terms of patient demographics characteristics, mean numbers of oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, or embryo availability. While the DHEA group demonstrated significantly higher implantation rates (18.7% vs. 10.1%; P<0.01) and ongoing PRs (26.7% vs. 15.8%; P<0.05) as compared with the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHEA pre-treatment does not significantly increase oocyte yield. However, the ongoing PRs in this subgroup of women are significantly higher after DHEA administration, suggesting that DHEA may increase IVF results by improving oocyte and embryo quality.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jihui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hanwang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guijin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone