Streamlining follicular monitoring during controlled ovarian stimulation. A data-driven approach to efficient IVF care in the new era of social distancing

STUDY QUESTIONWhat is the optimal follicular tracking strategy for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in order to minimise face-to-face interactions?SUMMARY ANSWERAs data from follicular tracking scans on Days 5, 6 or 7 of stimulation are the most useful to accurately predict trigger timing and risk of over-response, scans on these days should be prioritised if streamlined monitoring is necessary.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYBritish Fertility Society guidance for centres restarting ART following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related shutdowns recommends reducing the number of patient visits for monitoring during COS. Current evidence on optimal monitoring during ovarian stimulation is sparse, and protocols vary significantly. Small studies of simplifying IVF therapy by minimising monitoring have reported no adverse effects on outcomes, including live birth rate. There are opportunities to learn from the adaptations necessary during these extraordinary times to improve the efficiency of IVF care in the longer term.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONA retrospective database analysis of 9294 ultrasound scans performed during monitoring of 2322 IVF cycles undertaken by 1875 women in a single centre was performed. The primary objective was to identify when in the IVF cycle the data obtained from ultrasound are most predictive of both oocyte maturation trigger timing and an over-response to stimulation. If a reduced frequency of clinic visits is needed due to COVID-19 precautions, prioritising attendance for monitoring scans on the most predictive cycle days may be prudent.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSThe study comprised anonymised retrospective database analysis of IVF/ICSI cycles at a tertiary referral IVF centre. Machine learning models are used in combining demographic and follicular tracking data to predict cycle oocyte maturation trigger timing and over-response. The primary outcome was the day or days in cycle from which scan data yield optimal model prediction performance statistics. The model for predicting trigger day uses patient age, number of follicles at baseline scan and follicle count by size for the current scan. The model to predict over-response uses age and number of follicles of a given size.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEThe earliest cycle day for which our model has high accuracy to predict both trigger day and risk of over-response is stimulation Day 5. The Day 5 model to predict trigger date has a mean squared error 2.16 ± 0.12 and to predict over-response an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.91 ± 0.01.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONThis is a retrospective single-centre study and the results may not be generalisable to centres using different treatment protocols. The results are derived from modelling, and further clinical validation studies will verify the accuracy of the model.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSFollicular tracking starting at Day 5 of stimulation may help to streamline the amount of monitoring required in COS. Previous small studies have shown that minimal monitoring protocols did not adversely impact outcomes. If IVF can safely be made less onerous on the clinic’s resources and patient’s time, without compromising success, this could help to reduce burden-related treatment drop-out.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)F.P.C. acknowledges funding from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex. The authors declare they have no competing interests in relation to this work.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERN/A