Comparison of ovarian response in right and left ovaries in IVF patients

BACKGROUND: Anatomical and cyclical physiological differences exist between right and left ovaries which may affect their function and response to ovu lation induction. Although authors have compared right and left ovarian res ponse during IVF for patients with a unilateral diseased or absent ovary, n o study has examined the response of normal ovaries to gonadotrophin stimul ation within the same patient. We wished to determine if there were any sig nificant differences between right and left ovarian response in patients wi th healthy ovaries having standard WIT treatment. METHODS: We performed a p rospective observational case-controlled study in 200 consecutive IVF patie nts. The main outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved, fertil ization rates, grade of embryos produced, pregnancy rates and live birth ra tes. RESULTS: Comparison of right versus left ovary revealed: number of ooc ytes 4.9 versus 4.7, percentage fertilization 61.3 versus 62.5%, percentage of grade 1 embryos 81 versus 83%, chemical pregnancy rate 33 versus 47% an d live birth rate 27 versus 32% (all not significant). CONCLUSIONS: We conc lude that there are no statistical differences between right and left ovari an response in IVF patients with healthy ovaries.