Use of ovarian reserve parameters for predicting live births in women undergoing in vitro fertilization

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013 Jun;168(2):173-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.01.013. Epub 2013 Feb 26.

Abstract

Objective: To examine common clinical determinants, including patient age; levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH); antral follicle count (AFC); and number of oocytes retrieved, to predict live births in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Study design: Women undergoing cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the first time were reviewed retrospectively, and serum levels of AMH, inhibin B, and FSH, as well as AFC (days 1 and 4 of pre-ICSI menstrual period) and patient age were analyzed as determinants of live birth rates.

Results: Of the patients studied, 35.71% (891/2495) became pregnant, with live births achieved in 32.20% (806/2495) of cycles initiated and in 46.37% (806/1738) of embryo transfers. Clinical pregnancy rate was 35.71% (891/2495) for cycles initiated and 51.26% (891/2318) for embryo transfers. Univariate analysis revealed that the odds of live birth significantly decreased with increasing age, declining AMH or inhibin B concentrations, and fewer oocytes retrieved. At AMH levels greater than 5.7 ng/ml, the odds of live birth were 3.18 times greater than for AMH levels less than 1.9 ng/ml [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.89-5.43]. Using multivariate logistic regression, only AMH (OR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.00-3.60; p < 0.05) and AFC (OR = 1.86; 95% CI, 1.02-3.40; p < 0.05) showed statistically significant associations with live birth. Area under the curve for ROC (ROC(AUC)) indicated that AMH (AUC = 0.60) surpassed AFC (AUC = 0.59), number of oocytes retrieved (AUC = 0.59), inhibin B (AUC = 0.55), FSH (ROC(AUC) = 0.54) and chronological age (ROC(AUC) = 0.53) in predicting live birth.

Conclusions: In this assessment of various indices (i.e., age; levels of AMH, inhibin B, and FSH; AFC; and quantity of oocytes retrieved) for predicting live births for IVF patients, AMH, AFC and the quantity of oocytes retrieved constituted the most reliable determinants.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro*
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / etiology
  • Infertility, Female / therapy*
  • Infertility, Male / physiopathology
  • Inhibin-beta Subunits / blood
  • Live Birth
  • Male
  • Oocyte Retrieval
  • Ovary / pathology
  • Ovary / physiopathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / blood
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / diagnosis*
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / pathology
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • ROC Curve
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • Inhibin-beta Subunits