Abstract
Purpose: This study examined oocyte and embryo quality in patients having excessive ovarian responses during assisted reproduction treatment.
Methods: Two hundred and Seventy-eight women of age <40 years using a long protocol of pituitary downregulation in their first intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle indicated for severe male factors were retrospectively evaluated. Those with serum estradiol concentration on the day of HCG <10,000, 10,000–20,000, and >20,000 pmol/L were classified into Group A, Group B, and Group C, respectively.
Results: The percentage of metaphase II oocytes (85%), fertilization rate (60–66%), and distribution of blastomere number per embryo were similar among the three groups. The proportion of transferable embryos was not reduced in Group C when compared to those of Groups A and B.
Conclusion: Excessive ovarian response does not compromise oocyte and embryo quality in humans. Freezing of all embryos is recommended in these patients in view of associated impaired endometrial receptivity.
Keywords: Embryo quality, estradiol, excessive ovarian responses, oocyte quality
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