Table 1 Comparison of studies on controlled ovarian stimulation with FSH in recent studies of the last 10 years.

Reference	Study	FSH starting dose for PCOS	Recommendation for dose adjustment
Palep-Singh et al., 2007	Observational comparative study (PCOS in Asian women n = 104, Caucasian n = 220, controls n = 284)	Mean starting dose150 IU for Asian PCOS200 IU for Caucasian PCOS225 IU for Asian and Caucasian tubal infertility	Adjustment according to age, basal FSH and BMI, after 7 days possible increase of dosage in case of suboptimal response
Weghofer et al., 2007	Retrospective cohort study of 47 women with PCOS compared to 100 controls	150–450 IU for PCOS and Non-PCOS	Adjustment to follicular response
Koundouros et al., 2008	Prospective randomized study with PCOS-patients (n = 225)	75 IU/d step up225 IU/d step down150 IU and individual adjustment	Step-up regimen: 75 IU/d for 6 days, then increase of 37.5 IUStep-down: 225 IU/d of FSH for the first 3 days followed, then decrease to 150 IU/d for the next 3 days, then decreased to 75 IU/d or sustain at 150 IUStep-up/Step-down: 150 IU on day 1, then decrease to 75 IU on day 2, then increase back to 150 IU and so on until day 6, then, sustain at 150 IU/d or 75 IU/d
Sahu et al., 2008	Retrospective analysis of 51 PCOS ART-cycles, compared to 50 cycles with ultrasound morphology of PCO, control group 104 cycles	300 IU	According ovarian reserve score (age, BMI, AFC, FSH, E2), control on day 4
Swanton et al., 2010	Prospective cohort study (n = 290 women, including PCOS n = 78, PCO n = 101 and control n = 101)	150–375 IU according to age, basal FSH and previous ovarian response to gonadotropins – no difference in PCOS, PCO	No adjustment described
Ashrafi et al., 2011	Controlled randomized prospective study with n = 90 women with PCOS – three protocol variations concerning type of gonadotropins given and dose adjustment	150 IU for PCOS in all groups	Fixed dose of 150 IEStep down protocol to 75 IU, when leading follicle reached 14 mm in diameterFSH discontinued and low dose HCG when leading follicle 14 mm
Decanter et al., 2013	Single center prospective non-randomized interventional study (n = 113). Intervention was pretreatment with oral contraceptives	100 to 200 IU, according to age, BMI and AFC	No adjustment described
Huber et al., 2013	Retrospective cross-sectional study with n = 7 520 cycles, mixed cohort, no recommendation for PCOS	Mixed cohort, 75–450 IU; 75–125 IE for expected high response, 150–225 IU for normal response300–450 IU for poor response, according to age, markers of ovarian reserve, BMI, and previous response	Individual adjustment to responseNo recommendation for PCOS
Figen Turkcapar et al., 2013	Prospective randomized controlled study (n = 80 women with PCOS), HMG vs. FSH stimulation	150 IU	Adjustment according to E2, sonographical response
Akpinar et al., 2014	Retrospective observational study of n = 337 cycles of women with PCOS	75–300 IU according to BMI	No adjustment described
Shi et al., 2014	Multicenter prospective randomized controlled study of 1 180 women with PCOS. Intervention randomized in fresh ET at day 3 or freeze all	112.5 IU/day for patients ≤ 60 kg for PCOS150 IU/day for patients > 60 kg for PCOS	Adjustment according to ovarian response