Effect of polycystic ovaries on in vitro fertilization and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection treatment outcome

ObjectiveThe reproductive performance of women with polycystic ovaries (PCO) with regular ovulatory menstrual cycles undergoing in vitro fertilization and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) treatment has not been well described. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of IVF/ICSI in ovulatory women with PCO.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of women aged ≤ 42 years with infertility and regular ovulatory menstrual cycles who underwent their first IVF/ICSI cycle using the long down regulation protocol at IVF Australia-EAST in Sydney between 2000 and 2011. A pre-treatment baseline transvaginal pelvic ultrasound (TVS) had been performed by a single tertiary level diagnostic ultrasound center. Patients were divided into either group NO (normal ovaries) or group PCO according to the pre-treatment TVS. The primary outcome measure was live birth rate per patient.ResultsA total of 200 patients (135 in group NO and 65 in group PCO) were included in the data analysis. There was no difference in live birth rate per patient between the two groups (25.2% vs 26.2%) with both raw (OR [95% CI] = 1.05 [0.54–2.07]) and logistic regression adjusted (for maternal age) (Adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.99 [0.50–1.98]) data.ConclusionsThe presence of PCO in ovulatory women did not adversely affect IVF/ICSI outcome at our unit. However, the results are not conclusive and further large, well-designed prospective cohort studies are required in order to confirm our findings.