Abstract Study question Whether women pregnant after a poor response in IVF have obstetric and perinatal complications more frequently than women with pregnancies after a normal response in IVF? Summary answer There were no statistically significant differences in obstetric and perinatal complications rate between poor responders and normal responders in Chinese women. What is known already Poor ovarian response usually indicates a reduction in follicular response, resulting in a reduced number of retrieved oocytes. Patients are less likely to conceive and have a higher risk of cycle cancellation and low clinical pregnancy rate. Whether poor ovarian response is associated with obstetric and perinatal complications is however debated. Study design, size, duration Design: Prospective, monocentric, observational study. Size: 1664 women with poor ovarian response and 1061 women with normal ovarian response duration : July 1, 2017 to Aug 15, 2019.Participants/materials, setting, methods: 1664 women with poor ovarian response and 1061 women with normal ovarian response undergoing IVF or ICSI were enrolled in this study. The primary outcome was obstetric and perinatal complications rate. Main results and the role of chance 1664 women with POR and 1061 women with NOR were enrolled in this study.Poor and normal responders did not have significantly different incidences in obstetric and perinatal complications(25.42% vs 25.45%), nor were there a significant difference in preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, postpartum hemorrhage or abruptio placentae. But POR group have a lower frequency of twin pregnancies(8.47% vs 28.66%,P<0.01),low birth weight(5.08% vs 14.23%,P<0.01)and prematurity (9.32% vs 17.03%,P<0.01). Limitations, reasons for caution Despite its size, an observational study such as this has a number of inherent limitations, and the best way to confirm its findings will be to compare obstetric and perinatal outcomes in different subgroup of pregnancies following ART in an adequately powered randomized, controlled trial. Wider implications of the findings: This prospective, monocentric, observational study suggests that women with poor ovarian response did not have higher perinatal complication rate than women with normal ovarian response. Oocyte quality and quantity may not affect the rate of perinatal complications. Trial registration number Not applicable
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