title: Myo-inositol therapy for poor-responders during IVF: a prospective controlled observational trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The overall incidence of poor ovarian response in IVF cycles has been reported to be between 9 and 24%. The management of these patients remains a significant challenge in assisted reproduction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of myo-inositol (MI) on ovarian function in poor responders undergoing ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a prospective controlled observational trial, that involved 72 poor responders included in an ICSI program and divided into two groups; group A: 38 patients who have been assuming MI (4 g) + folic acid (FA) (400 μg) for the previous 3 months before the enrollment day; group B: 38 patients assuming FA (400 μg) alone for the same period. COH was carried out in the same manner in the two groups. The main goal was the assessment of oocytes retrieved number and quality; secondary endpoints were the Ovarian Sensitivity Index (OSI: n° oocytes retrieved/total Gonadotropins units × 1000), oestradiol levels on the day of hGC, fertilization rate, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding oestradiol level, but total rec-FSH units were significantly lower (p = 0.004) and M2 oocytes rate significantly higer (p = 0.01) in group A. The ovarian sensitivity index was higher, reaching a statistical significance (p < 0.05), in the group of patients pre-treated with MI, showing an improvement in ovarian sensibility to gonadotropin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that MI therapy in poor responders results in an increased of the number of oocytes recovered in MII and of the gonadotropin Ovarian Sensitivity Index (OSI), suggesting a MI role in improving ovarian response to gonadotropins. Therefore MI seems to be helpful in "poor responders" undergoing IVF cycles.
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Fertility Clinic, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, Naples, 80138, Italy. francescacaprio@infinito.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caprio
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Fertility Clinic, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, Naples, 80138, Italy. diletta.deufemia@icloud.com.
authors.forename: Maria Diletta
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: D'Eufemia
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Fertility Clinic, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, Naples, 80138, Italy. carlo.trotta@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Fertility Clinic, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, Naples, 80138, Italy. maracampitiello@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Campitiello
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Fertility Clinic, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, Naples, 80138, Italy. raianni@inwind.it.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ianniello
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Fertility Clinic, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, Naples, 80138, Italy. danimele@libero.it.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Fertility Clinic, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, Naples, 80138, Italy. nicola.colacurci@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colacurci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007294:Inositol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D006062:Gonadotropins; D007294:Inositol