IVF conversion to IUI in poor responders: an observational study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Infertility Management

Background:

• Poor ovarian response (POR) presents a challenge in in vitro fertilization (IVF).
• Evaluating alternative treatment pathways for POR is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical significance of converting IVF cycles to intrauterine insemination (IUI) in patients with poor ovarian response.
• To compare the outcomes of converted IVF-to-IUI cycles with standard IVF cycles in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 47 IVF cycles converted to IUI in 44 women with POR.
• Comparison with 44 IVF cycles in women with POR during the same period (January-December 2007).
• Analysis of patient characteristics, ovarian stimulation parameters, and cycle outcomes.

Main Results:

• The IVF-to-IUI conversion group exhibited lower ovarian reserve, shorter stimulation duration, higher rFSH doses, lower peak estradiol, and fewer mature follicles compared to the IVF group.
• Pregnancy rates were comparable between the two groups.
• Clinical pregnancy rates showed a trend towards being higher in the IVF-to-IUI conversion group.

Conclusions:

• Converting IVF cycles to IUI in poor responders suitable for IUI yields favorable pregnancy rates comparable to IVF.
• IVF conversion to IUI represents a valuable and viable alternative management strategy for infertile women with poor ovarian response.