Received February 02, 2017
Accepted July 23, 2017

Objective:To determine the effect of FSH doses on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes according to the age of the patient. Methods:Patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) for ICSI cycles in a university-affiliated in vitro fertilization center were split into age groups: ≤35 y.o. (n=1523); >35 and ≤38 y.o. (n=652); >38 and ≤40 y.o. (n=332); and >40 y.o. (n=370). The effect of FSH dose on COS, laboratorial and clinical outomes was determined by linear regression models. Results: The FSH dose didn’t affect the ovarian response in terms of total number of follicles, retrieved oocytes and mature oocytes within the age groups, but it was observed that the lower the age, the lower the FSH dose is needed per oocyte retrieved. In the group of patients ≤35 y.o., it was also noted a positive effect of FSH dose on oocyte yield. Despite that, for patients ≤38 y.o. it was verified a negative effect of FSH dose on embryo quality and blastocyst formation rate, and also an increase in cycle’s cancelation rate. In patients ≥ 39 y.o., there were no effects of the FSH doses on the analysed variables. Conclusions: The ovarian stimulation with high doses of FSH is not recommended in younger women (≤38 y.o.), once it was observed a decrease in embryo quality and an increase in cycle´s cancelation rate. Mild ovarian stimulation protocols may be more appropriate; however it may not be applicable for women in advanced age, since its necessary a higher FSH dose for oocyte retrieval in these patients.