Comparison of the Effects and Safety of Mild Ovarian Stimulation and Conventional Ovarian Stimulation with A Long GnRH Agonist Protocol on IVF Outcomes

ObjectiveTo conduct a Meta-analysis of studies that compared the efficacies of mild ovarian stimulation and conventional long GnRH agonist protocol in patients undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).MethodsMeta-analysis was performed. All studies were published by July 2012 with data related to outcomes following mild ovarian stimulation compared with the conventional protocol. Odds ratios (ORs) and weighted / standardized mean difference (WMD/SMD) from individual study were pooled in fixed and random effect models. Main outcome measure was the efficacy of mild ovarian stimulation.ResultsSix articles were included in this Meta-analysis. The number of oocytes retrieved was lower, the cycle cancellation rate was higher and the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was lower in the mild stimulation group than in conventional ovarian stimulation group. Clinical pregnancy rates were similar in both mild and conventional stimulation groups.ConclusionsThe level of evidence supporting the use of mild stimulation protocols in IVF is low, considering the fewer oocytes retrieved and the higher rates of cycle cancellation.