What should be the strategy in case of a big follicle at the start of the cycle? Shall we start the stimulation or postpone it to the next cycle?

Abstract

Objective: This study facilitates decision-making when an antral follicle diameter >15 mm is detected at the beginning of the menstrual cycle in poor responder (POR) patients.

Materials and methods: Eighty-three POR patients with at least one leading follicle with a diameter of 15 to 24 mm on the 2^nd-4^th days of the menstrual cycle were assessed.

Results: The mean age of females was 40.1±4.8 (26-45), and the mean partners' age was 42.1±7.8 (26-65). Fifty-one (61.4%) women underwent an oocyte pick-up procedure 36 h after the first ultrasonographic examination on the 2^nd-4^th days of the menstrual cycle. Gonadotrophin stimulation was initiated in 32 (38.6%) patients. Among women in whom oocyte retrieval was performed, an oocyte was obtained in 49 (59.75%) patients. In 13 of 49 patients (26.5%), no mature oocytes were obtained. Fertilized 2pn embryos were obtained in 18 of 33 patients (54.5%). Among the fertilized embryos, 12 were good, six were moderate, and two were of poor quality. Following the frozen embryo transfer procedure, one of the two patients experienced a clinical pregnancy.

Conclusion: Patients with POR are still difficult to manage both clinically and therapeutically. Since every oocyte is valuable and important, patients should be carefully followed up. Our research will be directed by the need to rule out a physiological ovarian cyst when large antral follicles appear at the beginning of the cycle. The clinician should give them a chance.