Ovarian cyst formation and in vitro fertilization outcome

Functional Ovarian Cysts in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer Cycles With Depot Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the incidence of functional ovarian cysts, its influence on clinical rates, and proper management after depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist pretreatment in artificial frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles (AC-FET).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study involved 3375 AC-FET cycles with follicular-phase depot GnRH agonist administration between January 2017 and December 2020. Subjects were divided into a study group (cycles with cyst formation) and a control group (cycles without cyst formation). The study group was matched by propensity scoring matching with the control group at a ratio of 1:2. For patients with ovarian cyst formation, two major managements were used: a conservative approach (i.e., expectant treatment) and a drug approach (i.e., continued agonist administration). The primary outcome was live birth rate (LBR).

RESULTS

The incidence of functional ovarian cysts following pituitary downregulation is 10.1% (341/3375). The study group exhibited a LBR similar to the control group (54.5% vs. 50.1%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-1.56, P = 0.274). Patients with a lower body mass index and anti-Müllerian hormone, and a higher basal estradiol level were more susceptible to developing functional ovarian cysts. The LBR decreased after the drug approach compared with the conservative approach, but not significantly (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.35-1.14, P = 0.125). Following the conservative approach, cycles arrived at live births had a significantly shorter duration from the detection of functional cysts to the start of endometrium preparation (15.7 ± 5.1 days vs. 17.4 ± 5.3 days, P = 0.009) and a significantly higher proportion of ovarian cysts on the initial day of exogenous hormone supplementation (51.4% vs. 30.3%, P = 0.001). After controlling for all confounders, the differences remained statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

It is unnecessary to cancel cycles that experience functional ovarian cyst formation. Conservative management and further agonist suppression protocol had similar pregnancy rates. However, a conservative approach was recommended due to its lower cost and fewer side effects. Our findings support a shorter waiting period when choosing the conservative protocol.

The effect of ovarian cyst aspiration on IVF treatment with GnRH

OBJECTIVE

The formation of cysts during IVF treatment may negatively influence the outcome. The aim of this study is to compare conservative management versus aspiration for functional ovarian cysts before ovarian stimulation for ART.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Women who underwent IVF cycle with a long protocol, and developed ovarian cysts, they were randomly divided into a cyst aspiration group (n = 90) in which the cysts were aspirated after diagnosis and a no-intervention group (n = 90) for which the conservative treatment was continued following cyst diagnosis.

RESULTS

The FSH level in women with ovarian cysts in the aspiration group was significantly higher than that in the no-intervention group (9.1 +/- 4.5 vs. 6.5 +/- 1.78 mIU/ml, p = 0.001). HMG requirement in that aspiration group was significantly higher than that in the non- intervention group (26.2 +/- 9.7 vs. 21.85 +/- 7.7, p = 0.0001). The embryo score in the no-intervention group was higher than the aspiration group (18 vs. 16, p = 0.0001).The cycle cancellation rate was significantly higher in the aspiration group than the no-intervention group. The pregnancy rate was higher but not significantly in the aspiration group than no-intervention group.

CONCLUSION

Cyst aspiration did not promote retrieved oocyte in quality and in number. Because cyst aspiration requires anesthesia and is expensive, conservative management is better and without improving the IVF outcome.

Management of prestimulation ovarian cysts during assisted reproductive treatments: impact of aspiration on the outcome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of basal ovarian cysts and also the impact of aspiration of those cysts at the onset of an assisted reproductive treatment (ART) cycle on stimulation characteristics and treatment outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 162 normoresponder patients with basal cysts from whom at least five oocytes were retrieved was performed. They all received mid-luteal GnRH-a long protocol. Of 162 patients, 79 with basal cysts of 29.4 +/- 9.0 mm and initial estradiol (E2) of 221.2 +/- 24.3 pg/ml underwent cyst aspiration on day 3 and stimulation was initiated when E2 fell to <70 pg/ml. In the remaining 83 patients with basal cysts of 16.9 +/- 6.4 mm and initial E2 of 39.9 +/- 5.7 pg/ml, the stimulation was started with gonadotropins immediately. The cycle characteristics and the treatment outcomes were compared between those two groups. Further comparison was made between the two groups when initial E2 concentrations were <70 pg/ml.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between the two compared groups regarding stimulation parameters and treatment outcomes. Implantation rates (IR) were 27 and 23%, pregnancy rates (PR) were 64 and 54% and live birth rates were 47 and 41% in the cyst positive and cyst aspirated groups, respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Basal ovarian cysts should not be considered a contraindication to gonadotropin initiation in normoresponder ART patients, provided serum E2 levels indicate down-regulation. Moreover, aspiration of basal cysts does not improve ART outcome when E2 levels are suppressed.

Ovarian cyst formation following GnRH agonist administration in IVF cycles: incidence and impact

BACKGROUND

The formation of functional ovarian cysts has been recognized as one of the side effects of GnRH agonist administration. The formation of cysts during IVF treatment may be of no clinical significance or may negatively influence its outcome. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of ovarian cyst formation following GnRH agonist administration and to examine their effect on IVF outcome.

METHODS

A prospective study of 1317 IVF patients who developed one or more functional ovarian cysts of >or=15 mm following GnRH agonist treatment was performed. Transvaginal ultrasonographic-guided cyst aspiration was carried out in 76 randomly allocated patients out of 122 patients who were found to have functional ovarian cysts before starting ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins.

RESULTS

The incidence of follicular cyst formation was 9.3%. Cyst cycles in comparison with non-cyst cycles had significantly elevated day 3 basal FSH (mean+/-SD of 8.3+/-3.2 versus 5.3+/-2.6 mIU/ml, P<0.05) and required more ampoules of gonadotropins (46.3+/-16.5 versus 35+/-14.6, P<0.01). Furthermore, they showed a statistically significant decrease in the quality and number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, number and quality of embryos, implantation and pregnancy rates, with a significant increase in cancellation and abortion rates. Patients with bilateral cysts had a significantly lower number of oocytes and embryos retrieved, with a lower proportion of metaphase II oocytes. They also had a higher proportion of poor quality embryos. Cyst aspiration was not associated with a significant difference in the above parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of cyst formation during GnRH agonist treatment is lower than previously reported. In such cases, the quality of oocytes and embryos were significantly compromised, with a significant increase in the cycle cancellation rate and a decrease in the implantation and pregnancy rates. Neither conservative management nor cyst aspiration improved the IVF outcome.