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Alternative Approaches in the Management of Poor Response in Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH)
Author(s) -
LOUTRADIS DIMITRIS,
DRAKAKIS PETER,
MILINGOS SPYROS,
STEFANIDIS KONSTANTINE,
MICHALAS STYLIANOS
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1290.013
Subject(s) - controlled ovarian hyperstimulation , ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome , medicine , andrology , gynecology , biology , infertility , in vitro fertilisation , pregnancy , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
A bstract : Improving pregnancy rates in patients with many failed attempts remains a challenge during IVF‐ET or ICSI‐ET programs. The availability of good‐quality oocytes is a prerequisite for good results in such programs. The use of a personalized protocol for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) that gives the best possible results for the specific patient is a main factor for the success in IVF or ICSI. The response of many patients to the ovarian stimulation used is very poor, giving fewer oocytes than expected, resulting in much lower, if any, pregnancy rates. The definition of a poor responder is not clear and differs among researchers. A variety of strategies have been used to improve response in these patients, regardless of the definition used. These include various ovulation induction protocols that we believe might assist these patients achieve a pregnancy. The difficulty is greater due to the fact that poor responders are not a homogeneous group and each patient may have a different cause. More studies with large numbers of patients are needed in order to find those protocols that could provide these couples with an acceptable pregnancy rate.