Results of in vitro fertilization attempts in patients with one or two ovaries

The purpose of this communication is to evaluate the results of in vitro fertilization attempts in women with infertility due to a tubal factor, with one or two ovaries. Four hundred fifteen patients (788 cycles) with two ovaries and 86 patients (162 cycles) with one ovary were stimulated with gonadotropins starting on day 3 of the cycle for multiple follicular development. Although the mean number of preovulatory oocytes per laparoscopy and per transfer was significantly higher (2.33 versus 1.67 and 2.28 versus 1.99, respectively) in patients with two ovaries than in those with one ovary, the pregnancy rates per transfer were almost identical in the two groups (24.4% with two ovaries, 23.9% with one ovary). Results are presented according to different stimulation protocols and different age groups. It is concluded that although fewer fertilizable oocytes may be recruited from patients with one ovary, the potential for achieving a pregnancy is no different from that of patients with two ovaries.