Effects of Vitamin D Levels on IVF Outcomes in Infertile Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Vitamin D is known to have various roles in different stages of reproduction, and abnormalities in its levels are observed in many diseases, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aimed to determine the relationship between the outcomes of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures with respect to the initial vitamin D levels among patients diagnosed with PCOS. Methods This study was designed as a case-control study of 1174 PCOS patients who consulted Acıbadem Maslak Hospital IVF Clinic between January 2015 – September 2022. The effect of vitamin D levels on IVF outcomes of PCOS patients was investigated. Data analysis explored initial vitamin D levels’ correlation with IVF outcomes with SigmaPlot 14.5. Results We observed a correlation between the patient's initial vitamin D status and positive clinical pregnancy rates (p = 0.002) as well as increased endometrial thickness on hCG day (p = < 0.001). The cut-off value of vitamin D level for a positive hCG test was calculated as 13.24 ng/mL. No association was seen between the patient’s initial vitamin D status, and the IVF outcomes, the number of embryos, or miscarriage rates. Conclusions Observing increased positive hCG tests generated promising findings, as it indicates that the PCOS patients’ initial vitamin D status can influence supplementation efforts as their final pregnancy results were significantly impacted. Conclusively, it may be said that patients having vitamin D values above 13.24 ng/mL are more likely to get a positive hCG result after IVF procedures.