Association between ICSI cycle outcome and response in women with infertility

Abstract

Background: Infertility is the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular and unprotected sexual activity. Increases in child-bearing delay and maternal age at first pregnancy significantly impact the rise of age-related infertility and the demand for treatment using assisted reproduction techniques (ART). As a result, many women with a low ovarian reserve and a poor ovarian response (POR) to conventional stimulation seek medical assistance at infertility clinics. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the quality of oocytes and embryos, as well as the rates of conception, in infertile women who were candidates for fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection between good and poor-responder women (ICSI). Patients and methods: The study was conducted on 45 infertile women undergoing ICSI at the High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies/ Al-Nahrain University/ Baghdad/ Iraq from October 2021 to April 2022, regardless of whether they had previously undergone ICSI. The morphology of the oocytes and the quality of the resulting embryos were assessed. The patients' ages ranged from 20 to 42 years old. There was primary and secondary infertility ranging from one to 20 years. Every couple had a basic reproductive assessment. The antagonist protocol was used for all infertile females. All females had their serum levels of AMH, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and oestradiol (E2) measured on the second or third day of their cycle. The serum oestradiol (E2) level was re-measured on the day of the hCG injection. Results: The participants in the study were 32.6 ± 5.3 years old. The findings showed that 57.8% of the patients had a well response, and 24.4% of the women were pregnant. In those who became pregnant, anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were significantly higher, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were noticeably lower (p> 0.05). The E2, LH, prolactin, and progesterone levels were not statistically different (P> 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings revealed a positive relationship between response and ICSI outcomes in infertile women.