Limited ovarian stimulation (LOS), prevents the recurrence of severe forms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in polycystic ovarian disease.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to test the possibility that LOS could be used to avoid the risk of occurrence of severe OHSS in PCOD patients with past history of severe OHSS in their previous IVF treatment.

STUDY

DESIGN

A prospective study, with patients stood as their own controls. Twenty patients with history of severe OHSS in their previous IVF treatment were included in the study. The patients received LOS cycles during the six months period commencing January 1998, a full dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (10,000 IU) was administered when the leading follicle reached a mean diameter of 12 mm, and oocytes retrieval 36 h later was followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfer. Signs and symptoms of severe OHSS were recorded.

RESULTS

All patients produced mature oocytes, achieved fertilisation and eight clinical pregnancies were diagnosed. None of the patients re-experienced the symptoms of severe OHSS, and none required hospitalisation.

CONCLUSION

We confirm that, in the studied group of patients, LOS helped in the prevention of the severe forms of OHSS in PCOD patients with past history of severe OHSS.