Project description:IntroductionAge, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), low body mass index (BMI), high antral follicle count (AFC), increased anti-Muller hormone (AMH) levels, and elevated serum estradiol (E2) concentrations are risk factors for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). However, data on the relationship between risk factors and OHSS severity in patients with PCOS are rare.ObjectiveThis retrospective study examined the risk factors for OHSS and their effect on OHSS severity in patients with PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).MethodThe records of 2,699 women were reviewed and included in this study. These women were diagnosed with PCOS during their first IVF/ICSI cycle between January 2010 and December 2017. We analyzed the association between each of the interrogated risk factors (including female age, BMI, AFC, basal serum E2, and the number of oocytes retrieved) and OHSS. The effects of each risk factor on OHSS severity were further explored. Logistic regression was performed as part of the above analysis.ResultsOf the 2,699 women with PCOS who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART), 75.2% had a normal response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), while 24.8% developed OHSS. All OHSS patients were younger and had lower BMIs and basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and E2 levels but higher AFCs than those in the normal group. AFC demonstrated a strong correlation with OHSS, with a cutoff value of 24 in patients with PCOS. A total of 19.5% of the patients had mild OHSS, while 80.5% had moderate OHSS. Compared with those in the moderate OHSS group, those in the mild OHSS group were older and had higher basal serum FSH levels and lower serum E2 and T levels. However, BMI and AFC were not different between the mild and moderate OHSS groups. Basal serum E2 showed a strong correlation with OHSS severity, with a cutoff value of 37.94 pg/ml.ConclusionsAFC is a strong marker of OHSS, and basal serum E2 is the best predictor of OHSS severity in women with PCOS undergoing IVF treatment.
Project description:Background: Progestin is an alternative to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues in the follicular phase to suppress the premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) is always accompanied by increased pituitary suppression and gonadotropin consumption. Previous studies suggested that letrozole appeared to have the potential to reduce the total gonadotropin dose required for ovarian stimulation. A retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of PPOS with or without letrozole in infertile women with PCOS. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 448 women with PCOS who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (n = 224) or hMG and MPA cotreatment with LE (n = 224) from January 2018 to March 2021 after propensity-score matching. The primary outcome measure was the hMG dose. The secondary outcomes were the durations of ovarian stimulation, the implantation rate, the number of oocytes retrieved and viable embryos, oocyte maturity and fertilization rates, the percentage of women with profound pituitary suppression (luteinizing hormone [LH] <1.0 IU/L on the trigger day). Results: The hMG doses (1949.89 ± 725.03 IU vs 2017.41 ± 653.32 IU, p > 0.05) and durations of ovarian stimulation (9.03 ± 1.79 days vs 9.21 ± 2.18 days, p > 0.05) were similar between the two groups. The implantation rate was significantly higher in the study group (MPA + hMG + LE) than in the control group (MPA + hMG) (42.22 vs 34.69%, p < 0.05). The numbers of oocytes and embryos retrieved were similar between the two groups. Interestingly, letrozole cotreatment was associated with decreased oocyte maturity and fertilization rates in comparison with standard PPOS protocols even though mature and fertilized oocyte yields were comparable. Compared with those in the control group, the LH values on the trigger day were significantly higher in the study group, together with significantly reduced pituitary suppression. Conclusion: Letrozole combined with PPOS cannot reduce hMG consumption in PCOS patients undergoing IVF treatment and shows no beneficial effect on cycle characteristics of COS. However, letrozole supplementation manifests as a superior implantation rate to that of the standard PPOS protocol in women with PCOS.
Project description:PurposeThe aim of this study was to explore the value of the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) as a judgment criterion for metformin pre-treatment before in vitro fertilization/intracellular sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) and embryo transfer (ET) for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients.Materials and methodsThe clinical and laboratory information of PCOS patients who received IVF/ICSI-ET from January 2017 to September 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. We compared the clinical pregnancy rate (primary outcome) and controlled ovarian stimulation (COS)-related parameters (secondary outcomes) between patients with and without metformin pre-treatment for all PCOS patients not grouped by HOMA-IR, PCOS patients with HOMA-IR < 2.71, and PCOS patients with HOMA-IR ≥ 2.71.ResultsA total of 969 PCOS patients who received the GnRH-antagonist protocol were included in this study. For all PCOS patients, the metformin group showed comparable clinical pregnancy rates in fresh ET cycles and frozen ET cycles compared with the control group (55.9% vs. 57.1%, p = 0.821 and 63.8% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.497). For PCOS patients with HOMA-IR < 2.71, the clinical pregnancy rates in both fresh ET cycles and frozen ET cycles were statistically similar between the two groups (61.5% vs. 57.6%, p = 0.658 and 70.6% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.535). For PCOS patients with HOMA-IR ≥ 2.71, the clinical pregnancy rate in fresh ET cycles was comparable between the two groups (51.5% vs. 56.3, p = 0.590), but it was statistically higher in the metformin group than in the control group in frozen ET cycles (57.1% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.023). The metformin group had less oocytes retrieved, a lower cleaved oocyte rate, a lower available D3 embryo rate, a lower blastocyst formation rate, and a lower available blastocyst rate than the control group.ConclusionHOMA-IR is a judgment criterion for metformin pre-treatment before IVF/ICSI-ET in patients with PCOS. Metformin pre-treatment could be added for PCOS patients with HOMA-IR ≥ 2.71 during frozen IVF/ICSI-ET cycles to improve the clinical pregnancy rate.
Project description:PurposeTo compare the effects of recombinant FSH alfa (rFSH-alfa), rFSH-beta, highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (HP-hMG) and urinary FSH (uFSH) in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome who have undertaken the GnRH antagonist protocol during IVF/ICSI treatment.MethodA single-center retrospective cohort study including women with PCOS who received the GnRH antagonist protocol from January 2019 to July 2022 was conducted. Patients were divided into rFSH-alfa group, HP-hMG group, uFSH group, and rFSH-beta group, and the number of oocytes retrieved, clinical pregnancy rate of the fresh cycle (primary outcomes), embryo quality, and severe OHSS rate (secondary outcomes) were compared.ResultsNo statistical differences were found among the four groups in fresh cycle clinical pregnancy rate (p=0.426), nor in the subgroup analyses. The HP-hMG group had a smaller number of oocytes retrieved and a higher high-quality D3 embryo rate than the three FSH groups (p<0.05). No statistical differences were found among the four groups in the severe OHSS rate (p=0.083).ConclusionFor women with PCOS undergoing the GnRH antagonist protocol, the clinical pregnancy rates of fresh IVF/ICSI-ET cycle are similar for all four types of Gn. With a lower risk of OHSS and a similar number of high-quality and available embryos, HP-hMG may have an advantage in the PCOS population.
Project description:ObjectivePolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism are related conditions, and both are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Knowledge is lacking about the complex interaction between thyroid status and PCOS during pregnancy. We investigated the thyroid status and its association with pregnancy complications in PCOS, and in relation to metformin treatment.DesignPost-hoc analyses of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.Methods288 pregnant women with PCOS were randomized to treatment with metformin or placebo from first trimester to delivery. We measured serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) at gestational week (gw) 5-12, 19, 32 and 36 and related to metformin treatment and pregnancy complications. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-ab) were analyzed at inclusion and at gw 36.ResultsThe overall prevalence of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism was 1.5% and 0%, respectively. The TSH level was not affected by metformin, whereas fT4 was significantly higher in the metformin group with less decrease throughout pregnancy compared to placebo, p<0.001. A lower decrease in fT4 during pregnancy correlated to less weight gain (r= -0.17, p=0.020) and tended to be associated with reduced odds ratio for gestational diabetes (OR 0.85 per 1 pmol/L, 95% CI 0.71;1.02).ConclusionsIn women with PCOS, metformin treatment during pregnancy was associated with less decrease in fT4 compared to placebo, while it did not affect TSH. A smaller decrease in fT4 correlated to less weight gain and tended to be associated with a lower risk of gestational diabetes.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT00159536 (The PregMet study); identifier NCT03259919 (The pilot study).
Project description:BackgroundObesity and insulin resistance (IR) are common features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Metformin (MET) increases insulin sensitivity, but it is associated with unsatisfactory weight loss. The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exenatide has been shown to reduce weight and IR in patients with diabetes. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of exenatide once-weekly (QW) combined with MET on body weight, as well as metabolic and endocrinological parameters in overweight/obese women with PCOS.MethodsFifty overweight/obese women with PCOS diagnosed via the Rotterdam criteria were randomized to one of two treatment groups: MET (500 mg three times a day [TID]) or combination treatment (COM) (MET 500 mg TID, exenatide 2 mg QW) for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were anthropometric changes associated with obesity, and the secondary outcomes included changes in reproductive hormone levels, glucose and lipid metabolism, and C-reactive protein.ResultsForty (80%) patients completed the study. COM therapy was superior to MET monotherapy in reducing weight (P = 0.045), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.041), and waist circumference (P = 0.023). Patients in the COM group on an average lost 3.8 ± 2.4 kg compared with 2.1 ± 3.0 kg in the MET group. In the COM group, BMI and waist circumference decreased by 1.4 ± 0.87 kg/m2 and 4.63 ± 4.42 cm compared with 0.77 ± 1.17 kg/m2 and 1.72 ± 3.07 cm in the MET group, respectively. Moreover, levels of fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2-h glucose, and OGTT 2-h insulin were significantly lower with COM therapy than with MET (P < 0.050). Mild and moderate gastrointestinal reactions were the most common adverse events in both groups.ConclusionsCOM therapy was more effective than MET alone in reducing body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, and improving insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese women with PCOS, with acceptable short-term side effects.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04029272. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04029272.
Project description:BackgroundWomen who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with high body mass index (BMI) typically have an attenuated ovarian response and decreased follicular size, which are linked to unfavourable clinical outcomes following in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy. The follicular output rate (FORT), a qualitative indicator of follicular response, seems to be positively linked to the clinical outcomes of IVF. Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) has become an alternative to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues to inhibit the premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. As letrozole (LE) shows promise in enhancing ovarian response, we compared PPOS with and without LE for PCOS in high BMI women with a focus on the FORT and associated clinical and pregnancy outcomes.MethodsFor the recruited 1508 women, ten variables including AFC; age; basal sex hormone level; BMI; infertility type; period of infertility and number of previous IVF attempts were chosen in the propensity score matching (PSM) model to match 1374 women who taken the MPA+ hMG protocol with 134 women who received the MPA+ hMG+ LE treatment at a 1:1 ratio. FORT was selected as the primary outcome measure. The number of oocytes retrieved, viable embryos, hMG dosage, duration, oocyte maturity rate, fertilization rate, and implantation rate were established as secondary outcomes.ResultsFORT was substantially elevated in the MPA+hMG+LE group compared with the MPA+hMG group (61% [35%, 86%] vs. 40% [25%, 60%], P <.001). Interestingly, the LE cotreatment group had a considerably lower mature oocyte rate despite having a similar number of mature oocytes and embryos recovered. The average hMG dosages and durations in the study group were similar to those in the control group. The implantation rate in the study group was numerically higher but without statistic significant than that in the control groups (43.15% (107/248) vs. 38.59% (115/298), OR 1.008, 95% CI 0.901-1.127; P >.05).ConclusionThe effect of LE combined with PPOS on FORT is better than the effect of the standard PPOS treatment in women with PCOS and a high BMI, but there is no substantially beneficial impact on pregnancy outcomes or the cycle features of COS, including consumption of hMG.
Project description:BackgroundFor infertile women with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance (IR), it is uncertain whether intervention before infertility treatment can improve live birth rate (LBR). We implemented a factorial-design study to explore the effectiveness of lifestyle and metformin interventions. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a definitive study.MethodsWe randomised 80 women without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) who planned to start their first or second IVF/ICSI treatment with a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 and IR. Participants were randomised (1:1:1:1) into four groups: (A) lifestyle intervention, (B) metformin intervention, (C) lifestyle + metformin intervention, or (D) no intervention. All interventions were performed before IVF/ICSI treatment.ResultsDuring 10 months, 114 women were screened and eligible; 80 were randomised, and 72 received the assigned treatment. The recruitment rate was 70.18% (80/114, 95% CI 61.65%-78.70%). An average of 10 participants were randomised each month. None of the participants crossed over from one group to another. Approximately 93.15% (68/73) of the participants achieved good intervention compliance. Only 77.78% (56/72) of the recruited participants started infertility treatment after achieving the goal of the intervention. All randomised participants completed the follow-up. Mild adverse events after metformin administration were reported in 43.24% (16/37) of the cases, although no serious adverse events related to the interventions occurred. The LBR for groups A + C and B + D were 33.33% (12/36) and 33.33% (12/36) (RR = 1.00, 95%CI:0.52-1.92) (lifestyle intervention effect). The LBR for groups B + C and A + D were 43.24% (16/37) and 22.86% (8/35) (RR = 1.89, 95% CI:0.93-3.86) (metformin intervention effect). There was no evidence for an intervention interaction between lifestyle and metformin. We cannot yet confirm the effects of lifestyle, metformin, or their interaction owing to the insufficient sample size in this pilot study.ConclusionsInstituting a 2 × 2 factorial design randomized controlled trial (RCT) is feasible, as the pilot study showed a high recruitment rate and compliance. There is no evidence that lifestyle or metformin improves live birth, and adequately powered clinical trials are required.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT03898037. Registered: April 1, 2019.