Low ovarian responders produce more progesterone per follicle than normal and high responders

• Published in: JBRA assisted reproduction 2024-12, Vol.28 (4), p.549-553
• Main Authors: Cortés-Vazquez, Alfredo, Cortés-Algara, Alfredo Leonardo, Moreno-García, Daniel, Younis, Johnny S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Original; Ovarian Follicle - metabolism; Ovarian Follicle - physiology; Ovulation Induction; Progesterone - blood; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1518-0557; 1517-5693; 1518-0557
• DOI: 10.5935/1518-0557.20240043

Late follicular premature progesterone rise is a complex phenomenon encountered during assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments; different etiologies can occur in the same patient. Low ovarian responders may be the best example, since higher FSH doses and ovarian aging-related changes may interact and generate a premature progesterone rise. This study aims to explore the correlation between progesterone levels on hCG day and the progesterone-to-follicle index and compare the progesterone-to-follicle index according to ovarian response. We performed a retrospective, observational, analytic, cross-sectional, and cohort study at the Reproductive Endocrinology Department at Centro Médico Nacional 20 de November between January 2015 to January 2020. After verifying for normalcy, a Spearman Rho, Principal Component Analysis, and a simple linear regression model were performed. Treatment cycles were classified according to their ovarian response. Low-ovarian responders were classified according to the Bologna Criteria. Then an ANOVA test was performed to compare each group. Our results show that the progesterone-to-follicle index correlates best with progesterone levels on hCG day. Comparing all the ovarian responses, low ovarian responders have the highest progesterone-to-follicle index of the four groups. Low ovarian responders produce more progesterone per follicle than regular and high responders.