The poor ovarian response in the In-Vitro Fertilization treatments (IVF/ICSI), and sometimes in egg donation, is one of the greatest obstacles nowadays, although the hormones, which stimulate the ovaries, are becoming more and more potent.
We talk about a poor ovarian response when there are less than 6 oocytes during the follicular punctuation in both ovaries. Nevertheless, the average number needed to have a realistic chance of a pregnancy is estimated about in total 8 oocytes per cycle.
It has been proved that the masculine hormones, also known as androgen or testosterone, which might be the most famous, can help to increase women’s fertility in IVF/ICSI treatments. They help to start the follicular development, in order to increase the number of oocytes, which favors the chance of a fertilization and a pregnancy.
Generally, we attribute the poor ovarian response to a poor ovarian reserve, as a consequence of pregnancy delay. Many times, women delay the pregnancy due to social reasons. However, there are also women under the age of 40 and egg donors with normal hormonal analyses who can show a poor response, although the estimated dose of hormones to stimulate the ovaries was taken.
The start of the ovary treatment makes the androgen by causing a metabolic environment which favors the follicular development. This is a natural process, but we can also increase the results by externally adding androgen.
Generally, testosterone can occur in lotions or patches. It helps us to increase the masculine hormones in the follicles which potentially can mature. By doing so, we increase the number of follicles that enter the phase of growing, and we initiate a higher number of oocytes and possible embryos, which makes the treatment even more efficient.
Adding testosterone is recommended to women who are going to undertake a IVF/ICSI treatment and who expect a poor ovarian response, caused by antecedents or by unfavorable biological characteristics, or because of demographic reasons or because of hormonal reasons. Even less frequent is the use in the oocytes of the donors, although it can also be indicated to women who have had an irregular answer to prior cycles.
CONCLUSIONES
La testosterona suministrada en crema o parches puede aumentar el reclutamiento folicular, y por ende conseguir mayor número de ovocitos.
Generalmente se utiliza cuando se prevé que podemos tener una baja respuesta ovárica.
Esperamos vuestras consultas en info@centromedicomanzanera.com o mediante el formulario de contacto que encontraréis en nuestra página web https://www.centromedicomanzanera.com/formulario_es/
Gregorio Manzanera
Gynecologist
IMAGEN: https://institutoeuropeo.es/testosterona/
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