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. 2025 Sep 10:12:1589193.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1589193. eCollection 2025.

The relationship between initial vitamin D levels and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in PCOS patients: a systematic review

Leony Octavia  1 , Dwi Andhika Panjarwanto  2 , Putri Nabila  3 , Putri Lenggo Geany  4 , R Mohamad Javier  5 , Aldo Aulia Rahman  6 , Vallexa Septina Yora  7 , Lucky Sutanto  8 , Arthur Peter Tandayu  2 , Srigita Varsha  9 , Sofyan Solichin  2
Affiliations

The relationship between initial vitamin D levels and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in PCOS patients: a systematic review

Leony Octavia et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting reproductive-age women and is often associated with infertility challenges. Recent studies suggest that vitamin D levels play a significant role in reproductive outcomes, particularly in PCOS patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between 2014 and 2024 were analyzed, focusing on the impact of pre-treatment vitamin D levels on IVF outcomes such as fertilization rates, implantation rates, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates. Only studies on PCOS-related infertility were included, while non-PCOS infertility cases were excluded.

Result: The review examined 59 studies, highlighting variations in outcomes based on study design and populations. Evidence generally supports the hypothesis that adequate vitamin D levels are associated with improved IVF success, though inconsistencies remain. Further research is recommended to standardize supplementation protocols and better understand vitamin D's biological mechanisms in reproductive health.

Conclusion: The relationship between initial vitamin D levels and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suggests that vitamin D plays a crucial role in enhancing IVF success, although the findings remain somewhat inconsistent. Research generally points to a positive correlation between higher baseline vitamin D levels and improved reproductive results, including increased live birth rates, pregnancy rates, and better ovarian responses during IVF treatments.

Systematic review registration: CRD42024622381, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024622381.

Keywords: in vitro fertilization; polycystic ovary syndrome; reproductive outcomes; systematic review; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer FU declared a shared affiliation with the author AR to the handling editor at the time of review.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Systematic review diagram based on PRISMA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias summary across 59 included studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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