Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding L-Carnitine to the gonadotropins on ART outcome in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles among PCOS women. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 83 patients with PCOS were randomized to either L-Carnitine supplemented (n = 42) or control (n = 41) groups. The L-Carnitine group was given 3000 mg of oral L-Carnitine daily until the final day of ovulation. The numbers of metaphase II (MII) oocytes, 2-pronuclears (2PNs), oocyte maturity rate, fertilization rate, fertilization proportion as well as implantation, chemical and clinical pregnancy rates were compared between the two groups. Results: Even though the duration of stimulation and endometrial thickness were comparable between groups (p > .05), serum estradiol level on the day of oocyte triggering, was significantly higher in the L-Carnitine group compared to the control group (p < .05). In contrast, the number of retrieved and MII oocytes as well as the number of 2PNs and obtained embryos were similar between groups (p > .05). Moreover, oocyte maturity rate (0.85 +/- 0.38 vs. 1.02 +/- 0.90), fertilization proportion (0.62 +/- 0.44 vs. 0.80 +/- 0.86), fertilization rate (0.70 +/- 0.22 vs. 0.76 +/- 0.19) along with implantation rate (18.1 vs. 13.7), chemical (26.8 vs. 30.7) and clinical (24.3 vs. 25.6) pregnancy rates, were all comparable between L-Carnitine and control groups respectively (p > .05). Conclusions: Our result showed that oral L-Carnitine administration during induction of ovulation among PCOS women could not improve laboratory and pregnancy outcome.