title: Live birth rates using conventional in vitro fertilization compared to intracytoplasmic sperm injection in Bologna poor responders with a single oocyte retrieved.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare reproductive outcomes following conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in poor responders fulfilling the Bologna criteria, with a single oocyte retrieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present retrospective study included 243 Bologna poor responders with a single oocyte retrieved, who were categorized into three groups, depending on the fertilization method and semen quality (IVF non-male factor-IVF/NMF n = 101; ICSI non-male factor ICSI/NMF n = 50; ICSI male factor-ICSI/MF n = 92).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In IVF/NMF, ICSI/NMF and ICSI/MF similar fertilization rates [65.3, 66, 58.7%, respectively], proportions of embryo formation [63.4, 60, 53.3%, respectively], proportions of good quality embryos [54.7, 56.7, 57.1%, respectively], implantation rates [8.9, 10, 8.2% respectively] and live birth rates per oocyte retrieval [5.0, 4.0, 3.3%, respectively] were observed. Degeneration rate of oocytes due to mechanical damage was significantly higher after ICSI in the ICSI/NMF and ICSI/MF groups (8 and 6.5%, respectively) compared to IVF/NMF (0%) (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional IVF and ICSI are associated with similar reproductive outcomes in poor responder patients with a single oocyte retrieved. Therefore, the choice of fertilization method should be based primarily on semen quality, in combination with the patient's previous history. A randomized controlled trial should be performed to confirm this study's findings that conventional IVF and ICSI have similar reproductive outcomes in poor responders.
authors.affiliation: Eugonia Assisted Reproduction Unit, 7 Ventiri Street, 11528, Athens, Greece, sfontouris@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ioannis A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sfontouris
authors.forename: Efstratios M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kolibianakis
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Lainas
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navaratnarajah
authors.forename: Basil C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Tarlatzis
authors.forename: Trifon G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lainas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*