Effects of transdermal testosterone in poor responders undergoing IVF: Systematic review and meta-analysis


Por: González-Comadran M., Durán M., Solà I., Fábregues F., Carreras R., Checa M.A.

Publicada: 1 ene 2012
Resumen:
A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of transdermal testosterone preceding ovarian stimulation in women with poor ovarian response undergoing IVF. Studies comparing pretreatment with transdermal testosterone versus standard ovarian stimulation among poor responders were included. The main outcome assessed was live birth. Three trials were included (113 women in the testosterone group, 112 in the control group). Testosterone-treated women achieved significantly higher live birth rate (risk ratio, RR, 1.91, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.63), clinical pregnancy rate (RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.78) and required significantly lower doses of FSH (RR -461.96, 95% CI -611.82 to -312.09). However, differences observed in clinical pregnancy per embryo transferred were not statistically significant (RR 1.72, 95% CI 0.91 to 3.26). No differences were observed regarding number and quality of the oocytes retrieved. In conclusion, transdermal testosterone significantly increases live birth and reduces the doses of FSH required. These findings support the theoretical synergistic role of androgens and FSH on folliculogenesis. The present data should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of trials and clinical heterogeneity. The identification of poor responders that could especially benefit from testosterone treatment should be addressed in further studies. The poor response to ovarian stimulation among women undergoing IVF is of great concern in reproductive medicine. Certain modalities have been tested to improve this response to gonadotrophin stimulation, although results from some studies have shown conflicting results. Hence, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in order to evaluate the effect of transdermal testosterone prior to ovarian stimulation among these women with poor ovarian response. The main outcome assessed was live birth rate. In all, three trials were included, which comprehended 113 women in the testosterone group and 112 in the control group. Women that were pretreated with transdermal testosterone achieved significantly higher live birth rate and clinical pregnancy rate and required significantly lower doses of exogenous FSH as compared with controls. However, when clinical pregnancy rate was adjusted per embryo transferred differences observed were not statistically significant. No differences were observed in the number and quality of the oocytes retrieved. In conclusion, transdermal testosterone prior to ovarian stimulation significantly increases live birth and reduces the doses of FSH required among poor responders. In addition, the identification of poor responders that could especially benefit from testosterone treatment should be addressed in further studies. © 2012, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Filiaciones:
González-Comadran M.:
 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

 International Master in Reproductive Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Durán M.:
 International Master in Reproductive Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Solà I.:
 Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Institute of Biomedical Research, IIB Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain

 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain

Fábregues F.:
 Institut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Carreras R.:
 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Checa M.A.:
 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

 Centro de Infertilidad y Reproducción Humana, Barcelona, Spain
ISSN: 14726483
Editorial
ELSEVIER SCI LTD, THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, OXON, ENGLAND, Reino Unido
Tipo de documento: Review
Volumen: 25 Número: 5
Páginas: 450-459
WOS Id: 000310639600003
ID de PubMed: 22999555
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