Antral Follicle Priming Before Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Previously Diagnosed Low Responders: A Randomized Controlled Trial (FOLLPRIM).

A low response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation implies a reduced number of embryos and impaired pregnancy rate. Follicular priming with steroids before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation has been suggested to improve the subsequent ovarian response.The purpose of this study was to determine the best follicular priming protocol in low responders and to investigate the intrafollicular mechanisms triggered by steroid hormone priming.This was a single-center, randomized, parallel, open-label, controlled trial, in two phases.The setting was a university-based in vitro fertilization unit.Potential low responders (n = 99) underwent a first intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle. Confirmed …