OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in the follicular fluid and serum with the outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSSerum and follicular fluid samples were obtained from 30 patients with PCOS and 34 healthy women (control) undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET in our center between October, 2007 and January, 2008. All the subjects received treatment with long luteal-phase down-regulation and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol in IVF cycles, and their clinical characteristics were analyzed. The AMH levels in the serum and follicles fluid samples collected on the day of oocyte retrieval were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

RESULTSThe two groups showed no significant differences in the mean age, baseline levels of sex hormones, rate of high-quality embryos, implantation rate, pregnancy rate, abortion rate or ongoing pregnancy rate (P>0.05). Despite a significantly lower total gonadotropin dose, PCOS group had a significantly greater number of antral follicles than the control group (P<0.05). The recovery rates of oocytes in PCOS group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). AMH levels in the serum and follicle fluid was significantly higher in PCOS group than in the control group (P<0.05), and in both groups, AMH levels in the follicular fluid were significantly higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women (P<0.05). AMH level in the follicular fluid was significantly correlated with the implantation rate in both PCOS and control groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAMH level in the serum and follicle fluid on the day of oocyte retrieval is predictive of the treatment outcome of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in POCS patients but not of pregnancy outcomes after IVF-ET.