Effect of ovarian cysts detected on the beginning day of ovulation induction to the success rates in ART cycles

Aim: In the present study, we examined the outcome of assisted reproductive technology cycles in patients with or without baseline ovarian cysts following gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone analogs administration. Materials and Methods: Three‐hundred and fifty‐six patients who had undergone assisted reproductive technology treatment were enrolled in the study. The patients, all of who had undergone cyst aspiration prior to ovarian stimulation, were grouped into two groups according to the absence or presence of ovarian cysts. These two groups were compared on the basis of the clinical pregnancy rates, the baseline E2 levels, the total follicle stimulating hormone ampules used, the total number of days of induction, the maximum E2 levels, the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rates and the number of embryos available for transfer per controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycle. Results: The number of ampules used for induction was significantly higher in the cyst group 37.2 ± 13.0, 32.1 ± 11.7, respectively, (P= 0.001). The number of total induction days was also longer in the cyst group 9.7 ± 2.2, 8.9 ± 1.6, respectively, (P= 0.001). There was no difference between the mean E2 levels measured on the human chorionic gonadotropin administration days (P= 0.339). There was also no difference in terms of the number of oocyte retrieved (P= 0.846). The number of embryos transferred did not differ statistically between the groups (P= 0.233). Finally, there was no significant difference between the groups according to the clinical pregnancy rates 25.3%, 30.7%, respectively, (P= 0.218). Conclusion: Baseline ovarian cysts have a negative impact on the quality of ovarian hyperstimulation procedure; however, they have no negative effect on the pregnancy rates in IVF cycles.