Increased gonadotrophin stimulation does not improve IVF outcomes in patients with predicted poor ovarian reserve

This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate whether increasing the starting dose of FSH stimulation above the standard dose of 150 IU/day in patients with low predicted ovarian reserve can improve IVF outcomes.

A total of 122 women aged less than 36 years in their first cycle of IVF were identified as having likely low ovarian reserve based on a serum AMH measurement below 14 pmol/l. Thirty five women were administered the standard dose of 150 IU/day FSH, while the remaining 87 received a higher starting dose (200-300 IU/day FSH). There were no significant differences in age, BMI, antral follicle count, serum AMH, FSH or aetiology of infertility between the two dose groups.

No significant improvement in oocyte and embryo yield or pregnancy rates was observed following an upward adjustment of FSH starting dose. While increasing the dose of FSH above 150 IU/day did not produce any adverse events such as OHSS, it did consume an extra 1,100 IU of FSH per IVF cycle.

The upward FSH dose adjustment in anticipation of low ovarian reserve can not be advocated as it is both expensive and of no proven clinical value.