Impact of dehydroepiandrosterone on clinical outcome in poor responders: A pilot study in women undergoing in vitro fertilization, using bologna criteria.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation in women with poor ovarian response (POR) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
Private tertiary fertility clinic.


METHODS
31 infertile women with POR diagnosed as per the Bologna criteria.


METHODS
DHEA supplementation for 2 months and a subsequent IVF cycle, after two previous IVF cycles with POR.


METHODS
Dose and duration of gonadotropin therapy, oocyte yield, embryo number and quality, pregnancy and live birth rate.


RESULTS
No difference was seen in gonadotropin requirement before and after DHEA supplementation. There was a significant increase in total and metaphase II oocytes (5.9 ± 0.68 vs. 2.73 ± 0.24; 4.45 ± 0.47 vs. 2.09 ± 0.26), fertilization (3.65 ± 0.49 vs. 2.00 ± 0.27), Grade I embryos (1.52 ± 0.25 vs. 0.55 ± 0.18), pregnancy rate (30% vs. 9.1%) and live birth rate (25% vs 0%) in those who completed the cycle, following DHEA supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation results in an improvement in oocyte yield, embryo quality, and live birth rate in a group of women with POR having undergone at least two previous failures due to POR.
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Sushrut Assisted Conception Clinic, Shreyas Hospital, Rajarampuri, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
Padma Rekha
PR
Jirge
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Sushrut Assisted Conception Clinic, Shreyas Hospital, Rajarampuri, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
Shruti Mahesh
SM
Chougule
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Sushrut Assisted Conception Clinic, Shreyas Hospital, Rajarampuri, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
Vijayamala Gurudas
VG
Gavali
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Sushrut Assisted Conception Clinic, Shreyas Hospital, Rajarampuri, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
Deepali Atul
DA
Bhomkar
Bologna criteria; Poor ovarian response; dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation; embryo quality; live birth rate