Table 3.
Telomerase activity, telomere length, clinical characteristics, and IVF outcomes between the PCOS group and non-PCOS group
| Characteristics | PCOS group (N = 65) | Non-PCOS group (N = 98) | P a |
|---|---|---|---|
| TA, OD × mm, mean ± SD | 0.094 ± 0.085 | 0.107 ± 0.119 | 0.424 |
| TA level | 0.184 | ||
| TA <0.070, n (%) | 34 (52.3) | 45 (45.9) | |
| TA ≥0.070, n (%) | 31 (47.7) | 53 (54.1) | |
| TL, T:S ratio, mean ± SD | 0.971 ± 0.289 | 1.118 ± 0.369 | 0.005* |
| TL level | 0.032* | ||
| TL <1, n (%) | 41 (63.1) | 45 (45.9) | |
| TL ≥1, n (%) | 24 (36.9) | 53 (54.1) | |
| Age, years, mean ± SD | 30.3 ± 4.3 | 31.7 ± 3.8 | 0.024* |
| BMI, kg/m2, mean ± SD | 21.8 ± 3.3 | 21.3 ± 3.4 | 0.365 |
| Duration of infertility, years, mean ± SD | 4.7 ± 3.0 | 5.4 ± 3.7 | 0.180 |
| Basal serum FSH level, IU/L, mean ± SD | 6.8 ± 2.0 | 9.0 ± 9.9 | 0.069 |
| Basal serum LH level, IU/L, mean ± SD | 7.4 ± 4.8 | 7.3 ± 28.5 | 0.967 |
| FSH/LHb, mean ± SD | 1.2 ± 0.6 | 2.4 ± 4.4 | 0.024* |
| Basal serum testosterone level, nmol/L, mean ± SD | 1.9 ± 0.8 | 1.3 ± 0.7 | <0.001* |
| Basal serum estrogen level, ng/L, mean ± SD | 45.6 ± 30.1 | 48.8 ± 59.4 | 0.692 |
| Total Gn dose, IU, mean ± SD | 1817 ± 911 | 2063 ± 636 | 0.045* |
| Serum FSH level on HCG day, ng/L, median (IQR) | 11.3 (8.0–14.6) | 15.9 (12.5–20.0) | <0.001* |
| Serum estrogen level on HCG day, ng/L, mean ± SD | 3501 ± 1484 | 4206 ± 7745 | 0.498 |
| Retrieved oocytes, mean ± SD | 16 ± 8 | 17 ± 7 | 0.510 |
| Metaphase II oocytes, mean ± SD | 14 ± 6 | 14 ± 6 | 0.663 |
| Proportion of mature oocytesc, %, mean ± SD | 89.1 ± 12.1 | 86.0 ± 13.8 | 0.139 |
| Available embryos, mean ± SD | 9 ± 5 | 9 ± 5 | 0.793 |
| Good quality embryosd, mean ± SD | 3 ± 3 | 3 ± 3 | 0.974 |
| Rate of good quality embryose, %, mean ± SD | 37.1 ± 30.7 | 35.5 ± 29.5 | 0.749 |
| Fertilization rate, %, mean ± SD | 82.7 ± 18.4 | 80.3 ± 19.9 | 0.437 |
| Cleavage rate, %, mean ± SD | 97.9 ± 5.4 | 95.5 ± 15.9 | 0.178 |
| Pregnancy ratef, n (%) | 30 (58.8) | 38 (52.8) | 0.506 |
| Miscarriage rateg, n (%) | 2 (6.7) | 2 (5.3) | 1.000 |
| Cumulative pregnancy rateh, n (%) | 47 (74.6) | 69 (74.2) | 0.954 |
| Cumulative rate of taking baby homei, n (%) | 40 (63.5) | 64 (68.8) | 0.489 |
| Cumulative miscarriage ratej, n (%) | 7 (14.9) | 5 (7.2) | 0.309 |
PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome, TA telomerase activity, SD standard deviation, TL telomere length, BMI body mass index, FSH follicle-stimulating hormone, LH luteinizing hormone, Gn gonadotropin, IQR interquartile range, HCG human chorionic gonadotropin
*P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant
a P values: Mann–Whitney U test for serum FSH level on HCG day, t test for other continuous variables, chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables
bFSH/LH = basal serum FSH level/basal serum LH level
cProportion of mature oocytes = metaphase II oocytes/retrieved oocytes
dGood quality embryos were embryos identified as grade A (4 cells in day 2 or 7–8 cells in day 3) or grade B (4–5 cells in day 2 or 7–9 cells in day 3) [17]
eRate of good quality embryos = good quality embryos/available embryos
fPregnancy rate = the number of pregnant patients with fresh embryo transfer/the total number of patients with fresh embryo transfer
gMiscarriage rate = the number of patients with spontaneous abortion/the total number of patients with fresh embryo transfer
hCumulative pregnancy rate was total chances of being pregnant after one IVF cycle including fresh embryo transfer and frozen embryo transfer [24]
iCumulative rate of taking baby home was total chances of successfully giving birth to a healthy baby after one IVF cycle including fresh embryo transfer and frozen embryo transfer
jCumulative miscarriage rate was total chances of spontaneous abortion after one IVF cycle including fresh embryo transfer and frozen embryo transfer