Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition in women of reproductive age, often linked with ovulatory dysfunction. Assisted reproductive techniques (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), are frequently employed to help these women achieve pregnancy. The choice of controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocol is pivotal for the success of IVF, especially in women with PCOS.
Objectives: This study aimed to retrospectively compare the GnRH agonist (GnRHa) protocols both short and long with the different progesterone-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocols in PCOS women, focusing on ovarian response and clinical outcomes.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of 730 PCOS patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfer (ET) at Benha University Hospital (BUH) and Al Yasmine IVF CENTER/Benha/Kalubia government between January 2015 and April 2023. Of these, 380 patients were stimulated using the PPOS protocols, while 350 patients underwent the GnRHa protocols. The primary outcomes measured were the total dosage and duration of gonadotropin (Gn) used, number of oocytes retrieved, number of mature oocytes, and fertilization rate. Secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy rate, early abortion rate, and the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).