Patients with three or less dominant follicles may not be associated with reduced pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization treatment

Abstract

Objectives: The management of poor ovarian responders remains a great challenge in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. This study compared implantation and pregnancy rates among women who developed ≤3 dominant follicles of ≥16 mm in diameter and those who had >3 dominant follicles after ovarian stimulation. Study design: Retrospective study. Results: Out of 911 consecutive patients receiving ovarian stimulation between January 2000 and December 2002, 894 (98.1%) patients underwent oocyte retrieval. Women with ≤3 dominant follicles were significantly older, required a longer duration and a higher dosage of gonadotrophin but produced lesser number of developing follicles, number of oocytes aspirated and number of embryos frozen when compared with those with >3 dominant follicles. Despite a significantly higher percentage of non-elective single embryo transfer in women with ≤3 dominant follicles, implantation rate, pregnancy rate and pregnancy outcomes were comparable for women with ≤3 and >3 dominant follicles. Conclusion: Implantation and pregnancy rates appeared to be comparable for women who developed ≤3 and >3 dominant follicles during IVF treatment. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.