Young Low Responders Protected from Untoward Effects of Reduced Ovarian Response

Objective(s): To correlate fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) in low responders with their E2 levels (<500, 500-800, >800-1,000 pg/mL), age (20-30, 31-40, >40 years), number of follicles, and number of oocytes retrieved.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: The IVF unit of an academic hospital.

Patient(s): One hundred forty-three women who failed to attain E2 levels of 1,000 pg/mL on the day of hCG administration.

Intervention(s): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, blood E2 and progesterone measurements, ultrasonographic scanning of ovarian follicles, oocyte retrieval after hCG administration, and ET.

Main Outcome Measure: Clinical PR.

Result(s): Although E2 levels, fertilization rates, age, and number of oocytes did not differ significantly between the three age groups, the PR achieved in the youngest group was approximately three times as high (19.3%) as that achieved in the two older groups.

Conclusion: Young low responders represent a unique subset in that their age protects them from the deleterious effects of poor ovarian response.