OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) pre-treatment before in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) on the live birth rate in infertile women with poor ovarian response (POR) defined according to the Bologna criteria.

DESIGN

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

Nine reproductive medical centers in China.

POPULATION

A total of 821 participants with POR defined according to the Bologna criteria were enrolled in the study between April 2016 and December 2018.

METHODS

Eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either DHEA (n = 410) or placebo (n = 411) treatments for 4-12 weeks prior to IVF-ET, in a 1:1 ratio.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Live birth rate after the first embryo transfer.

RESULTS

Thirty-six (8.8%) of 410 women in the DHEA group and 37 (9.0%) of 411 women in the placebo group had a live birth, with no significant difference observed between groups (relative risk, 0.98, 95% CI, 0.63-1.51; p = 0.911). There were no significant differences in the number of retrieved oocytes, and the rates of clinical pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and cumulative live births between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

DHEA administration prior to IVF-ET had no beneficial effect on the live birth rate relative to placebo in women with POR defined according to the Bologna criteria.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

No benefit was found in poor ovarian responders who received DHEA administration prior to IVF.