Prognostic factors in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Objective: To determine whether the number of retrieved oocytes and the required amount of gonadotropins per oocyte in IVF treatment can be predicted with use of the following independent predictive variables: age, parity, cause of infertility, body mass index, day 3-5 FSH, E-2, inhibin B, ovarian volume, the number of follicles, and intraovarian and uterine artery vascular resistance measured by ultrasonography before ovarian hyperstimulation. Design: A retrospective analysis. Setting: University hospital infertility clinic. Patient(s): Seventy-four consecutive women attending the university hospital infertility clinic for IVF treatment. Intervention(s): The investigated factors were measured on day 3-5 of the cycle, in which luteal phase suppression was begun before ovarian hyperstimulation preparatory to IVF. Main Outcome Measure(s): The amount of gonadotropins required per oocyte and the number of retrieved oocytes were correlated with the predictive factors in stepwise regression analysis. Result(s): The best predictive factors for the number of oocytes retrieved were FSH, inhibin B, and parity, explaining 25% of the ovarian response. Intraovarian vascular resistance, parity, FSH, and inhibin B best predicted the amount of gonadotropins needed, explaining 44% of the variation. Conclusion(s): FSH, inhibin B, and parity were the independent predictive factors for the number of retrieved oocytes. The same factors and intraovarian vascular resistance predicted the required amount of gonadotropins per oocyte. The main part of the ovarian response cannot be predicted using the factors investigated. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;72:932-6. (C)1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).