HIGH-INCIDENCE OF EMBRYO-TRANSFER CANCELLATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME

This study was aimed at assessing the outcome of in-vitro fertilizatio n (IVF) and embryo transfer in patients with polycystic ovarian syndro me (PCOS). The results of IVF and embryo transfer in PCOS patients (PC OS group, 78 cycles of 26 patients) were compared with those of a cont rol group (423 cycles in 202 patients without male factor; age and ova rian stimulation protocol were matched). Although the pregnancy rate p er transfer was not different in the two groups of patients (25 versus 34%, PCOS versus control group), the PCOS group had a significantly l ower pregnancy rate per follicle aspiration (19 versus 31%, P < 0.05). A notable result was a significantly higher incidence of embryo trans fer cancellations in the PCOS group (22 versus 8%, P < 0.01), which re sulted from unpredictable failure of either oocyte recovery or fertili zation. The incidence of unexplained complete failure of fertilization was significantly higher in the PCOS group (18 versus 5%, P < 0.01). These results may reflect a reduced quality of the oocytes in the PCOS group, and there was a subgroup of PCOS patients who repeatedly produ ced poor results of treatment. Although the ovarian stimulation regime n best suited to PCOS patients remains to be determined, special care should be taken during ovarian stimulation, especially when the PCOS p atients had experienced unexplained failure of oocyte recovery or fert ilization in the previous treatment cycle(s).