Follicular aspiration does not protect against the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of follicular aspiration on the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

DESIGN

A retrospective study was done on 219 IVF cycles that proceeded to follicular aspiration (group A) and they were compared with 189 cycles of ovulation induction for non-IVF cycles (group B). We compared the incidence of OHSS in regularly ovulating patients (subgroups A1 and B1) and anovulatory patients (subgroups A2 and B2) in both groups.

SETTINGS: The study took place at The Egyptian IVF-ET Center.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 319 infertility patients.

INTERVENTION: Ovulation was induced and follicles were aspirated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidences of moderate and severe OHSS were the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

The incidence of OHSS in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P = 0.016). There was no significant difference in the incidence of OHSS between subgroup A1 and subgroup B1 or between subgroup A2 and subgroup B2.

CONCLUSIONS

Follicular aspiration had no effect on the incidence of OHSS. In contrast, the higher incidence of OHSS in group B was related to the higher incidence of anovulatory infertility.