Researchers in a 2026 guideline review provide evidence-based recommendations from ESHRE on ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI, covering protocols, medications, monitoring, and safety.
Ovarian stimulation protocols
A 2025 meta-analysis combined 151 studies on interventions for advanced maternal age (>35) patients. It found no clear advantage to any specific stimulation protocol or FSH type, no benefit from routine ICSI, and decreased live birth with assisted hatching, while more research is needed on blastocyst versus cleavage-stage transfer and on PGT-A with modern methods.
A new study found that selecting FSH type based on a woman’s FSH receptor (FSHR) genotype may improve IVF pregnancy and live birth rates, particularly when using rFSH for NN genotypes and uFSH for NS or SS genotypes.
A 2024 meta-analysis combined the results of 12 studies comparing different IVF trigger shots, including hCG, GnRH agonist, and dual and double triggers. Triggers showed variable outcomes, highlighting the need for a personalized medicine approach.
After a failed first IVF cycle, researchers found that switching ovarian stimulation protocols was linked to a reduced chance of another cancellation, with factors like age, diagnosis and smoking status also contributing to success.
Can you actually improve egg quality for IVF? It’s a question many patients ask, and while age is a major factor, it’s not the only one. This guide breaks down what egg quality really means, what affects it (including stimulation, lifestyle, and age), and what the latest research says about supplements and interventions.