The use of coenzyme Q10 and DHEA during IUI and IVF cycles in patients with decreased ovarian reserve

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2016 Jul;32(7):534-7. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2015.1137095. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the combination of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) (D + C) with DHEA alone (D) in intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles among patients with decreased ovarian reserve.

Methods: We retrospectively extracted data from patients charts treated by DHEA with/without CoQ10 during IUI or IVF between February 2006 and June 2014. Prestimulation parameters included age, BMI, day 3 FSH and antral follicular count (AFC). Ovarian response parameters included total gonadotropins dosage, peak serum estradiol, number of follicles > 16 mm and fertilization rate. Clinical outcomes included clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates.

Results: Three hundred and thirty IUI cycles involved D + C compared with 467 cycles of D; 78 IVF cycles involved D + C and 175 D. In both IUI and IVF, AFC was higher with D + C compared with D (7.4 ± 5.7 versus 5.9 ± 4.7, 8.2 ± 6.3 versus 5.2 ± 5, respectively, p < 0.05). D + C resulted in a more follicles > 16 mm during IUI cycles (3.3 ± 2.3 versus 2.9 ± 2.2, respectively, p = 0.01), while lower mean total gonadotropin dosage was administered after D + C supplementation compared with D (3414 ± 1141 IUs versus 3877 ± 1143 IUs respectively, p = 0.032) in IVF cycles. Pregnancy and delivery rates were similar for both IUI and IVF.

Conclusion: D + C significantly increases AFC and improves ovarian responsiveness during IUI and IVF without a difference in clinical outcome.

Keywords: Antral follicle count; CoQ10; DHEA; IVF; controlled ovarian hyper stimulation.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / administration & dosage
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / pharmacology*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods*
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Insemination, Artificial / methods*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Ovarian Reserve / drug effects*
  • Ovulation Induction / methods*
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ubiquinone / administration & dosage
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / pharmacology
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage
  • Vitamins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Vitamins
  • Ubiquinone
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone
  • coenzyme Q10