Risk factors for inadequate response to ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction cycles: systematic review

PURPOSE: Controlled ovarian stimulation is a fundamental part of a successful assisted reproduction treatment, and recognizing patients at risk of a poor response allows the development of targeted research to propose new treatment strategies for this specific group. The objective of this systematic review was to determine risk factors for poor ovarian response (POR) to controlled stimulation in assisted reproduction cycles described in the literature. METHODS: The primary databases MEDLINE, Cochrane, LILACS, and SciELO were consulted, using specific terms with a restriction for articles in English or Portuguese published in the last 10 years. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that environmental endocrine disruptors, tobacco, genetic mutations, endometriomas, ovarian surgery, chemotherapy, and short menstrual cycles are factors that influence stimulation in assisted reproduction cycles. Further studies are necessary for characterizing patients with prior risk factors.