Can ovarian double-stimulation in the same menstrual cycle improve IVF outcomes?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the double-stimulation protocol efficacy over conventional ovarian stimulation in recovering a more adequate number of oocytes and increase the number of embryos to be transferred or to be genetically analyzed. METHODS: A retrospective and comparative study with 13 patients who underwent unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with a conventional antagonist ovarian stimulation protocol and repeat the attempt with a double stimulation protocol. The following variables were analyzed: number of oocytes collected, mature oocytes collected, fertilization rate, blastocyst rate, biopsied blastocyst rate and euploidy rate. RESULTS: The double stimulation protocol had a significant higher number of oocytes collected (p=0.007) and mature oocytes to be injected (p=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in fertilization (p=0.78) and blastocyst (p=0.59) rates. CONCLUSION: Double stimulation favors patients who are at risk of incurring several attempts of IVF to achieve pregnancy.

Are Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Ideal Candidates for Oocyte Donation?

Background. The use of donated oocytes for in vitro fertilization treatment in patients with ovarian failure is universally recognized. But would patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) be a good choice for egg donation programs? Objective. Comparing the pregnancy rates of egg receptors from donor patients diagnosed with PCOS to receptors from donors without PCOS. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Methods. A total of 234 patients who had undergone egg reception program were separated into two groups: Group I, receptors from PCOS donors (n = 36); Group II, receptors from donors without PCOS (n = 198). Medical records were reviewed and the fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy rates were calculated. Results. PCOS patients had an average of 3.23 more oocytes retrieved, but there were no differences in the number of mature oocytes that were used for donation between the groups. We also observed that the number of transferred embryos was also not significantly different, as well as the fertilization and implantation rates. The clinical pregnancy rates were not significantly different: 28% and 26% in Group I and Group II, respectively. Conclusions. Women with PCOS should not be excluded from egg donation programs.