IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH Antagonist, and Long Protocols in Patients having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle.

OBJECTIVE To compare the IVF outcome of patients assumed to be poor responders before their first cycle treated by microdose flare-up or GnRH antagonist protocols with patients who had a poor ovarian response after their first cycle stimulated with long GnRH protocol. STUDY DESIGN Observational cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF Unit of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, from September 2014 to February 2019. METHODOLOGY Patients treated with the first cycle of IVF and diagnosed as poor responders after ovarian stimulation were evaluated according to the treatment protocol, including microdose flare-up (Group 1: 136 patients), GnRH antagonist (Group 2: 105 patients), and long GnRH agonist (Group 3: 77 patients). RESULTS Basal FSH level was significantly lower in group 3 compared to other groups (p<0.05). The number of oocytes retrieved, the number of metaphase II oocytes were similar between groups, although the mean AFC was significantly higher in group 3 than in group1 and 2 (p<0.05). Clinical pregnancy rates per patient were higher in group 3 (20.8%) than in group 1 (12.5%) and group 2 (13.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.230). The live birth rate per patient was statistically higher in group 3 (19.5%) as compared to other groups (8.8%, 9.5%, respectively; p<0.05). CONCLUSION Long protocol may be an option in poor responders undergoing IVF. Ovarian reserve markers are essential factors with stimulation protocol for the success of IVF in poor responder patients. Key Words:  Infertility, Ovulation induction, Ovarian reserve, Fertilisation in-vitro, Oocyte retrieval, Pregnancy outcome, Reproductive techniques, Assisted.