Serum from women with polycystic ovary syndrome inhibits fertilization and embryonic development in the murine in vitro fertilization model

Objective: To study the effects of serum collected from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on the fertilization and early embryonic development of the murine oocyte. Design: Sera from women with anovulation were used as a supplement in a murine IVF model. Setting: Tertiary care academic medical center. Patients: Four fertile, four hypothalamic amenorrheic, seven PCOS (three with elevated LH and four with elevated T), and three anovulatory women with normal hormone levels. Results: When compared with serum from fertile women, serum from women with PCOS reduced fertilization rates (60% versus 42%) and subsequent early embryonic development rates (87% versus 31%). Serum from women with PCOS and elevated T levels had the lowest fertilization rates (22%). Polycystic ovary syndrome serum with elevated T or LH levels significantly decreased early embryonic development rates in comparison to fertile women (22%, 41% versus 87%). Conclusions: Serum from women with PCOS inhibited fertilization and blastocyst development. Because both T and LH caused inhibited blastocyst development, these data have implications regarding low pregnancy rates and live birth rates during ovulation induction in women with anovulation. These data also raise questions regarding the use of serum during IVF.