Young low responders protested from untoward effects of reduced ovarian response

Objective(s): To correlate fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) in low responders with their E-2 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 E-2 levels of 1,000 pg/mL on the day of hCG administration. Intervention(s): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, blood E-2 and progesterone measurements, ultrasonographic scanning of ovarian follicles, oocyte retrieval after hCG administration, and ET. Main Outcome Measure: Clinical PR. Result(s): Although E-2 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. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.