Many protocols have been proposed to improve IVF outcomes for poor ovarian responders. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between age, ovarian hyperstimulation protocol and IVF/ICSI outcomes in poor ovarian responder (POR) according to the Bologna criteria, and to compare the efficacy of different protocols used in PORs undergoing IVF/ICSI. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 4875 IVF/ICSI cycles, including 592 cycles of women diagnosed with POR according to Bologna criteria. We explored the association of age, different types of ovarian hyperstimulation protocols and prevalence of POR, IVF/ICSI outcomes. Age, basic FSH, AFC, and as well as ovarian hyperstimulation protocols, were all associated with POR. Irrespective of age, PORs in different ovarian hyperstimulation protocol groups had similar AFC, basic sex hormones, number of retrieved oocyte, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate as well. However, PORs treated with mild stimulation protocol used least doses of gonadotropins and shortest days of stimulation compared with those treated with other protocols (P<.05). The current study has shown that age, basic FSH, AFC and ovarian stimulation protocols patients used are all significantly associated with POR according to the Bologna criteria. It seems that there is no difference in clinical outcomes such as clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate and spontaneous abortion rate between different protocols.
Keywords: Bologna criteria; Ovarian hyperstimulation protocol; poor ovarian responder.