Women’s Age is the Best Success Predictor in a Cohort of Poor Responders: A Retrospective analysis according to POSEIDON Criteria - Abstract
Introduction: Currently there is great interest in analyzing patients with poor response to determine cycle outcomes in a way to develop new treatment strategies for this group of patients.
Purpose: To classify a cohort of infertile patients according to Poseidon criteria and compare groups demographic profile and cycle outcomes.
Method: An observational, retrospective study, based on 558 assisted reproduction cycles performed between 2015 and 2018 at a single quaternary center in Brazil. Group division was according to Poseidon’s criteria. Groups 1 and 2 included patients with AFC ? 5 and ? 9 oocytes retrieved in a previous cycle. Younger patients (age < 35y) were included in Group 1, while older patients (age ? 35y) were included in Group 2. These groups were subdivided into groups 1A (<35y, <4 oocytes), 1B (<35y, 4-9 oocytes), 2A (? 35y, < 4 oocytes), and 2B (?35y, 4-9 oocytes). The groups 3 (<35y) and 4 (? 35y) consisted of patients with AFC lower than 5. Comparisons were made between the subgroups and relative to a control group of patients who retrieved ? 10 oocytes,
being then subdivided in patients younger than 35 years (C1) and over 35 years (C2).
Results: Groups 1B and C1 had a higher rate of clinical pregnancy (p=0,028), Groups 3, 4 and 2A of Poseidon had less oocytes recovered (p < 0,001). Group 4 had a smaller number of embryos formed (p=0,001).
Conclusion: Woman’s age, more than the ovarian reserve, is the main determinant of success in poor prognosis patients.