AimsThis study aims to determine the optimal number of oocytes retrieved so that patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF) can obtain the best cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) and live birth after fresh embryo transfer.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of 1,419 patients with PCOS who underwent their first IVF cycle at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2014 to December 2021. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to adjust for factors known to independently affect cumulative live birth aspiration. The number of oocytes retrieved to obtain the best cumulative live birth rate was explored through curve fitting and threshold effect analysis. The decision tree method was used to explore the best number of oocytes retrieved to achieve live birth in the shortest time.Results(1) The number of oocytes retrieved was found to be an independent protective factor for the cumulative live birth rate (OR = 1.09 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.12)). When the number of oocytes retrieved was less than 15, CLBR increased by 16% with each increase in the number of oocytes retrieved (OR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.22)); and when more than 15, CLBR tended to be stable. (2) Live birth after the first fresh embryo transfer was analyzed through a classification decision tree. For patients younger than 35 years old, those with less than 6 oocytes and those with 7–16 oocytes had a similar proportion of live births with fresh embryo transfer but higher than 16 oocytes (53.7% vs. 53.8% vs. 18.4%). Patients older than 35 years old had a similar proportion of live births with fresh embryo transfer (35.7% vs. 39.0%) to those younger than 35 years old, but the proportion of no live births after using up all embryos was higher than those younger than 35 years old (39.3% vs. 19.2%).ConclusionsIn PCOS patients, high CLBR can be obtained when the number of oocytes retrieved was 15 or more. The number of oocytes retrieved from 7 to 16 could achieve more chance of live birth after fresh embryo transfer.

ObjectiveWe aim to explore the effects of follicular output rate (FORT) on cumulative clinical pregnancy rate (CCPR) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with different characteristics undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed 454 patients with PCOS undergoing their first IVF cycle at our center from January 2016 to December 2020. FORT was calculated as pre-ovulatory follicle count (PFC) × 100/antral follicle count (AFC). Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between FORT and CCPR and CLBR. Curve fitting and threshold effect analyses were established to find nonlinear relationships. Effect modification in different subgroups were examined by stratification analyses.ResultsBased on the FORT values, individuals were classified into the following three groups: low-FORT group, middle-FORT group and high-FORT group. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that FORT was an independent factor affecting the CCPR and CLBR significantly (OR = 1.015, 95% CI: 1.001, 1.030 and OR = 1.010, 95% CI:1.001, 1.020). Curve fitting and threshold effect analyses showed that the CCPR and CLBR had a positive correlation with FORT when the FORT was less than 70% (OR = 1.039, 95% CI: 1.013, 1.065 and OR = 1.024, 95% CI: 1.004, 1.044). Stratification analyses showed that the CLBR increased by 1.3% with each additional unit of FORT for patients with hyperandrogenic manifestations (OR = 1.013, 95% CI: 1.001, 1.025). Compared with the low-FORT group, in the high-FORT group, CCPR increased 1.251 times for patients with polycystic ovarian morphology, while CCPR and CLBR increased 1.891 times and 0.99 times for those with ovulation disorder, respectively (OR = 2.251, 95% CI: 1.008, 5.028 and OR = 2.891, 95% CI: 1.332, 6.323 and OR = 1.990, 95% CI: 1.133, 3.494).ConclusionIn patients with PCOS, cumulative IVF outcomes have a positive correlation with FORT when the FORT is less than 70%. For PCOS patients with polycystic ovarian morphology, ovulation disorder or hyperandrogenic manifestations, a high FORT could be conductive to achieving better pregnancy outcomes.