Outcomes of in vitro fertilization cycles among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome following ovarian puncture for in vitro maturation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of ovarian puncture for in vitro maturation (IVM) on subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer cycles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS: A retrospective study included data from patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China, between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. Patients with PCOS undergoing IVF cycles after having been treated with IVM unsuccessfully were included as the study group and an IVF-procedure data-matched control group of patients undergoing their first IVF cycles was included in a 1:4 ratio. Patients with reproductive anomalies were excluded. Endocrine-hormone levels and antral follicle counts were measured and fertilization-related outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS: There were 49 patients included in the study group and 196 included in the control group. Within the study group, basal luteal-hormone, testosterone, and antral follicle count levels were significantly lower following IVM treatment. The total gonadotropin dose was lower (P<0.001) and the duration of stimulation was shorter (P<0.001) in the study group compared with the control group. The clinical-pregnancy rate was higher in the study group (P=0.018) and no difference was observed between the groups in ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (P=0.633).

CONCLUSIONS: Previous IVM resulted in improved endocrine profiles and increased clinical-pregnancy rates among patients with PCOS undergoing IVF cycles.