| Table 1. Baseline and cycle characteristics of the overall population (n=444) and each group (control vs. PPO group). The overall data are shown in the first column, while columns 2 and 3 contain the data that refer to each group and their comparison. The numeric variables are shown as mean±standard deviation. A p value refers to the comparison using an ANOVA test. MWMann-Whitney test due to a negative homogeneity of variances test; non-parametric data are shown by median± interquartile range. The categorical variables are shown as proportion. A p value refers to the comparison using the Chi-square test. *p=0.05 was considered statistically significant. BMI = body mass index; AMH = antimullerian hormone; PGT-A = pre-implantational genetic testing for aneuploidies. PPO = partial premature ovulation. FSH = follicle stimulating hormone. hMG = human menopausal gonadotropin. hCG = human chorionic gonadotropin. GnRh-a = gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist. E2 = estradiol. P4= progesterone. IQR = interquartile range. | ||||
| OVERALL N=444 | PPO GROUP N=111 | CONTROL GROUP N=333 | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 37.8±3.8 | 37.7±3.3 | 37.9±4.0 | 0.684 |
| BMI | 23.9±4.1 | 23.9±4.0 | 23.9±4.1 | 0.928 |
| AMH | 2.2±2.1 | 1.9±2.7 | 2.3±1.9 | 0.190 |
| Semen origin Partner semen Donated semen |
348/404 (86.1%) 56/404 (13.9%) |
64/71 (90.1%) 7/71 (9.9%) |
284 (85.3%) 49 (14.7%) |
0.282 |
| PGT-A Yes No |
248 (55.9%) 196 (44.1%) |
58 (52.3%) 53 (47.7%) |
190 (57.1%) 143 (42.9%) |
0.377 |
| Treatment year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 |
70 (15.8%) 100 (22.5%) 68 (15.3%) 93 (20.9%) 82 (18.5%) 31 (7.0%) |
16 (14.4%) 35 (31.5%) 11 (9.9%) 21 (18.9%) 16 (14.4%) 12 (10.8%) |
54 (16.2%) 65 (19.5%) 57 (17.1%) 72 (21.6%) 66 (19.8%) 19 (5.7%) |
0.023* |
| Cause of infertility Advanced maternal age Male factor Low reserve/low response Karyotype alteration/genetic disease Endometriosis Polycystic ovarian syndrome Infertility of unknown origin Other |
195 (43.9%) 129 (29.1%) 32 (7.2%) 14 (3.2%) 12 (2.7%) 11 (2.5%) 22 (5.0%) 29 (8.7%) |
46 (41.4%) 33 (29.7%) 12 (10.8%) 6 (5.4%) 4 (3.6%) 2 (1.8%) 5 (4.5%) 3 (2.7%) |
149 (44.7%) 96 (28.8%) 20 (6.0%) 8 (2.4%) 8 (2.4%) 9 (2.7%) 17 (5.1%) 26 (7.8%) |
0.166 |
| Ovarian stimulation Days of stimulation Total gonadotropin dose (UI) |
10.8±2.0 2986.2±1275.4 |
11.1±2.2 3137.7±1376.1 |
10.7±1.9 2953.7±1252.6 |
0.138 0.277 |
| Stimulation
protocol Antagonists Agonists Progestagens Clomiphene citrate Other Type of trigger hCG GnRH agonist hCG & GnRH agonist |
335 (75.5%) 5 (1.1%) 60 (13.5%) 24 (5.4%) 20 (4.5%) 88 (19.8%) 265 (59.7%) 91 (20.5%) |
83 (74.8%) 2 (1.8%) 15 (13.5%) 6 (5.4%) 5 (4.5%) 13 (11.7%) 80 (72.1%) 18 (16.2%) |
2 52 (75.7%) 3 (0.9%) 45 (13.5%) 18 (5.4%) 15 (4.5%) 75 (22.5%) 185 (55.6%) 73 (21.9%) |
0.923 0.007* |
| Triggering day E2 levels (pg/ml) P4 levels (ng/ml) No. follicles |
2108.8±1417.9 0.57 (IQR 0.74) 11.9±5.8 |
1808.2±1286.9 0.82 (IQR 1.32) 11.0±6.0 |
2174.5±1438.5 0.55 (IQR 0.64) 12.1±5.7 |
0.048* 0.015MW* 0.180 |
| Triggering day: Right Ovary No. follicles No. follicles ≥10mm No. follicles ≥13mm Biggest follicle (mm) |
5.9±3.4 5.5±3.4 4.8±3.2 19.0±2.7 |
5.5±3.5 5.3±3.6 4.8±3.4 19.1±2.9 |
6.0±3.4 5.5±3.4 4.8±3.2 19.0±2.6 |
0.276 0.562 0.990 0.719 |
| Triggering day: Left Ovary No. follicles No. follicles≥10mm No. follicles≥13mm Biggest follicle (mm) |
5.9±3.0 5.4±3.2 4.8±3.0 18.9±2.9 |
5.4±3.1 5.1±3.2 4.7±3.1 19.2±3.3 |
6.0±3.0 5.4±3.2 4.8±3.0 18.9±2.8 |
0.192 0.396 0.759 0.475 |