Title: A preliminary evaluation of the influence of isolated polycystic ovary on IVF
Abstract: The Rotterdam definition for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) states two out of three criteria must be met. However the clinical significance and management of isolated polycystic ovary (PCO) is still unclear. The aim of our study is to investigate the clinical significance of isolated PCO in assisted reproduction by comparing clinical and laboratory aspects of patients with morphologically normal ovaries (Nov), isolated PCO, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a retrospective medical record review study. Medical records of 444 patients that visited our infertility clinic between 2011 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients in the three groups, isolated PCO, PCOS, and Nov, were subdivided into subgroups according to age, previous history of fertility or infertility. Cumulative embryo score (CES) and the number of good quality embryos were used to assess embryo quality. The number of oocytes retrieved was significantly higher in PCO group compared to Nov group (12.94±11.1 vs. 8.03±7.4, respectively, p<0.05). The number of good quality embryo was lowest in patients with PCOS (mean±SD, 0.56±0.73), while the other two groups were similar (1.18±1.01 in the PCO group, 0.91±0.98 in the Nov group, respectively, statistically not significant). The mean CES score was lower in the PCOS group (49.2±33.9) than either PCO group (68.4±29.7) or Nov group (64.2±34.5), but failed to show a statistical significance (p=0.291). Overall pregnancy rates in the PCO group was highest, when compared to the overall pregnancy rates in the normal group and the PCOS group (p=0.082). Patients with isolated PCO pattern may not only have high potentials for developing large number of follicles, but also produce equally high quality embryos as in the non-PCO patients, resulting in higher pregnancy rates with appropriate ovarian stimulation.