Risk factors, management, and future fertility of empty follicle syndrome: a retrospective study with real-world data

TL;DR

This study identifies PCOS as a risk factor for empty follicle syndrome and finds that delaying oocyte retrieval improves pregnancy outcomes for affected patients.

Contribution

The study introduces a specific rescue protocol for EFS patients by delaying oocyte retrieval by 3–6 hours.

Findings

PCOS patients have a 2.67 times higher risk of EFS compared to non-PCOS patients.

Delaying oocyte retrieval by 3–6 hours significantly improves pregnancy and embryo availability rates.

About 31.5% of EFS patients achieved live birth in the EFS cycle, and 46.7% in future cycles.

Abstract

Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a challenging clinical problem. This study aims to identify the risk factors for EFS, to present pregnancy outcomes in both EFS cycle as well as subsequent cycles, and to summarize an effective rescue protocol to improve outcomes.

A retrospective analysis between 2016 and 2020 was conducted at our center. Stricter criteria were applied to diagnose EFS. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for EFS. Further analyses were performed within the EFS cycle to present pregnancy outcomes and to find optimal rescue protocols. Long-term follow-up was conducted until live birth was achieved, covering at least two complete oocyte retrieval cycles.

Among 14,066 patients, 54 (0.38%) were identified as EFS. Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) had a significantly higher risk of developing EFS than non-PCOS ones (aOR = 2.67; 95% CI, 1.47 to 4.83). Within EFS patients, delaying the second oocyte retrieval by 3–6 h significantly improved the rates of obtaining oocyte (97.4% versus 58.3%, P = 0.002), getting embryo available for transfer (92.3% versus 33.3%, P < 0.001), and pregnancy (48.7% versus 8.3%, P = 0.017) compared to other delayed retrieval times. Overall, 31.5% (17/54) and 46.7% (7/15) EFS patients achieved live birth in the EFS cycle and the future cycle, respectively.

PCOS is an independent risk factor for EFS, indicating that longer exposure time to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be necessary. Delaying the second oocyte retrieval by 3–6 h is an effective rescue protocol for EFS patients to achieve optimal outcomes. EFS in a single cycle does not necessarily indicate future fertility decline, but repeated EFS may result in poor outcomes.

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