The effect of metabolic syndrome on controlled ovarian stimulation outcome in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing assisted reproductive technology cycles.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) diagnosis on oocyte quality and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who undergoing antagonist-controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted from November 2019 to November 2020 across two university-affiliated infertility centers in Iran. The PCOS diagnosis was defined according to the Rotterdam criteria. The patients prior to IVF/ICSI cycles were evaluated for MetS diagnosis. MetS was detected according to the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III with the presence of at least three or more of the specific clinical criteria. The cycle outcomes were compared between MetS and non-MetS groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 68 eligible infertile PCOS patients with MetS diagnosis and 126 without MetS participated. The MetS diagnosis was associated with the increased requirement of gonadotropins and the COS duration significantly (P = 0.001). Although the total numbers of retrieved and MII oocytes, obtained and topquality embryos as well as clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in the MetS group were lower than those of in the non-MetS group, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In followup of the obstetrics complications, the rate of preeclampsia was significantly higher in patients with MetS (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

MetS diagnosis in PCOS patients was associated with non-significant poor COS and pregnancy outcome. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to clarify the risk of MetS in patients undergoing ART cycles.