When IVF stimulation results in 3 or less oocytes, the decision to continue rather than cancel the cycle poses a clinical challenge. We evaluated outcomes of IVF cycles in patients with 3 or less oocytes at retrieval to determine the efficacy of continuing IVF treatment. Retrospective study. 437 patients with 3 or less oocytes who underwent IVF from 2003 to 2006 were included. Stimulation protocol, number of oocytes retrieved, implantation, pregnancy, and clinical pregnancy rates were collected. Outcomes were compared based on age (<40 years old and ≥40 years old), stimulation protocol, degree of ovarian reserve (defined by age and stimulation protocol), and number of oocytes retrieved. Of the 437 patients in this analysis, 227 were ≥ age 40 and 210 < age 40. For patients age ≥40, 96% were characterized with a diminished ovarian reserve and 4% with a normal ovarian reserve. For patients age <40, 86.7% were characterized with a diminished ovarian reserve and 13.3% with a normal ovarian reserve. Patients age ≥40 with diminished ovarian reserve had lower implantation, pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates compared to the other groups, although not statistically significant (Table 1). Analyzing the number of oocytes retrieved per each group showed no significant difference in implantation, pregnancy, and clinical pregnancy rates (Table 2). Compared by protocol type, patients <40 who underwent a long lupron down-regulation protocol had a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate compared to the same age patients undergoing no lupron short protocol (28.6% vs. 14.9%, P<0.03). Table 1Patients Age < 40Patients Age ≥ 40Dim Ov Reserve (n = 182)Nl Ov Reserve (n = 28)Dim Ov Reserve (n = 218)Nl Ov Reserve (n = 9)No. Embryo Transfer (%)22.517.923.422.2Pregnancy Rate (%)25.832.118.520.0Clinical Pregnancy Rate (%)17.025.06.612.0Implantation Rate (%)16.823.06.87.1 Open table in a new tab Table 2Patients Age < 40Patients Age ≥ 40n = 22n = 69n = 119n = 24n = 69n = 134Number of oocytes123123No. Embryo Transfer (%)45.530.412.637.533.315.7Pregnancy Rate (%)9.124.631.116.717.419.4Clinical Pregnancy Rate (%)9.113.022.78.32.98.2Implantation Rate (%)16.718.817.41.43.87.0 Open table in a new tab In patients with normal ovarian reserve, reasonable pregnancy rates can be achieved with only 3 or less oocytes. This suggests continuation of IVF cycle may be a better option than cancellation. Also, protocol choice may influence clinical outcome in patients <40 years old.