Management of Poor Ovarian Response

Abstract

Poor ovarian response (POR) occurs in approximately 9-24% of patients in ART. It presents a challenge to the reproductive consultant and causes immense emotional distress to the couple. Over the last few decades, ART has seen an improvement on both the clinical and embryological front however, adequate management of POR remains elusive. Etio-pathogenesis of the condition is poorly understood and varying definitions of POR have been used in studies. In recent years the POSEIDON criteria have been proposed to define this group of ‘low-prognosis’ patients and to optimize management. POSEIDON groups are assigned based on age and ovarian reserve. The patient groups are thus the unexpected poor responder’s having a normal ovarian reserve and the expected poor responders who have a poor ovarian reserve, to begin with. Management strategies to improve oocyte numbers and quality include manipulation of pituitary suppression and OS regimes, addition of LH and use of mild stimulation. The Duo- stim protocol has proved successful in increasing egg numbers, using the follicular and luteal phases of the same cycle. Adjuvant therapies which have shown promise in recent years are the use of Testosterone gel, Growth hormone, Co-enzyme Q10. Ovarian rejuvenation using Intra-ovarian platelet-rich plasma, ovarian activation and use of autologous stem cells is exciting and ongoing research in this area may yield evidence in future. The speaker will share her experience with the use of IOPRP for improving ovarian reserve during the lecture.