Accumulation of embryos over 3 natural modified IVF (ICSI) cycles followed by transfer to improve the outcome of poor responders.

backgroundAlternatives to improve treatment outcomes in poor responders are needed. For this we studied whether multiple (x3) Natural Modified (NM)-IVF(ICSI) cycles followed by an embryo transfer (ET) from the accumulated embryos can improve the treatment outcomes in poor responders.

methodA retrospective analysis was applied to a pool of participants qualifying as poor responders according to the Bologna criteria. This was performed over a 2-year IVF center database with a Study Group including women with a minimum of 3 cycles of NM-IVF (ICSI) and subsequent vitrified-thawed ET. As a control, 1 NM-IVF (ICSI) cycle with fresh ET was used. The primary outcome accounted was the livebirth rate (LBRs) following one ET; the secondary outcome was clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs), miscarriage and cycle cancellation rates. Comparisons were held over mean numbers by t-test, over median by Mann-Whitney, and categorical data were treated by Chi-square.

resultsThe prognosis for livebirth in the study (n=125) and control (n=208) group was equally poor (mean age: 40.2 ± 3.0 vs 40.0 ± 3.3; median AMH: 2.1 vs 2.2 (pmol/L), AFC 4.0 vs 4.0). The LBR was significantly higher with the study protocol (30.6% vs 13.3%; p=0.002), particularly in women aged 35-39 years (31% vs 10.8%; p=0.05) and 40-44 years (26% vs 10.3%; p=0.02). Lower LBR in women aged ≥35 years in the control-group was mainly attributable to the higher miscarriage rate. With significantly more oocytes (mean: 6.5 ± 3.8 vs 2.0 ± 1.4; p <0.0001) and embryos available (mean: 3.6 ± 2.3 vs 0.9 ± 0.7; p<0.0001), only a minority ended up with no ET in the study-group (7.2% vs 35.6%; p<0.0001). None dropped-out while undergoing 3 cycles, whereas no patient opted for further attempts after one standalone cycle.

conclusionAccumulation of embryos through 3 NM-IVF cycles before transfer improves livebirth rates and reduces the risk of lacking an embryo for transfer in poor responders aged ≥35 years.