IS OVARIAN RESPONSE ASSOCIATED TO ADVERSE PERINATAL OUTCOMES IN GNRH ANTAGONIST IVF/ICSI CYCLES?

Abstract Research Question Is there an association between ovarian response and perinatal outcomes? Design This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study including all women undergoing their first ovarian stimulation cycle in a GnRH antagonist protocol, with a fresh embryo transfer that resulted in a singleton live birth from January 2009 to December 2015. Patients were categorized into four groups according to the number of oocytes retrieved: 1–3 (category I), 4–9 (category II), 10–15 (category III), or > 15 oocytes (category IV). Results The overall number of patients analyzed was 964. There was no relevant statistical difference found among neonatal outcomes throughout the four oocyte categories. Neonatal weight (in grams) was comparable between all groups (3222 ± 607 vs. 3254 ± 537 vs. 3235 ± 575 vs. 3200 ± 622, P=0.85). No statistically significant differences were found among the oocyte categories for birth weight z-scores (taking into account neonatal sex and delivery term). The event of preterm birth and low birth weight was comparable across the different oocyte groups (P=0.127 and P=0.19 respectively). Finally, the advent of adverse obstetrical outcomes did not differ among the oocyte categories. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the number of oocytes was not associated with neonatal birth weight. Conclusions No association was found between ovarian response and adverse perinatal outcomes in antagonist IVF/ICSI cycles. Future, larger scale and prospectively designed investigations are needed to validate these results.