Appendix 1. Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group specialised register search strategy

From inception until present

Procite platform

Keywords CONTAINS "IVF" or "ICSI" or "ET" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection techniques" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection" or "in‐vitro fertilisation " or "in vitro fertilization" or "Embryo Transfer" or "ovarian stimulation" or "ovarian stimulation controlled ovarian stimulation" or "ovulation induction" or "ovulation stimulation" or "superovulation" or "superovulation induction" or "ovarian hyperstimulation" or "poor responders" or "poor responder" or "poor prognostic patients" or "controlled ovarian hyperstimulation" or "controlled ovarian stimulation" or "COH" or Title CONTAINS "IVF" or "ICSI" or "ET" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection techniques" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection" or "in‐vitro fertilisation " or "in vitro fertilization" or "Embryo Transfer" or "ovarian stimulation" or "ovarian stimulation controlled ovarian stimulation" or "ovulation induction" or "ovulation stimulation" or "superovulation" or "superovulation induction" or "ovarian hyperstimulation" AND Keywords CONTAINS "long agonist protocol" or "long‐long protocol" or "long protocol" or "long v short protocol" or "short protocol" or "stimulated cycle" or "Stimulation techniques" or "stop protocol" or "flare‐down" or "flare‐up" or "flare‐up GnRH agonist" or "flare‐up protocol" or "micro‐dose GnRH‐a flare" or "micro‐dose HCG" or "microdose flare cycle" or "microdose flare‐up protocol" or "microdose GnRH agonist flare" or "microg IN buserelin" or "flexible protocol" or "multidose antagonist protocol" or "GnRH agonist short protocol" or "GnRH agonist vs antagonist" or "gonadotrophin stimulation" or "Gonal‐F" or "mild ovarian stimulation" or "mild protocol" or "mild stimulated" or "mild stimulation" or "Gonal‐F" or "GnRH a" or "GnRH agonist" or "GnRH agonists" or "GnRH analog" or "GnRH analogue" or "GnRH analogues" or "GnRH antagonist" or "GnRH antagonists" or "GnRHa" or "GnRHa‐gonadotropin" or "Gonadorelin" or "gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist" or "Gonadotrophin releasing agonist" or "natural cycle" or "natural cycles" or "modified natural cycle" or "artificial cycle"

OR

Keywords CONTAINS "IVF" or "ICSI" or "ET" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection techniques" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection" or "in‐vitro fertilisation " or "in vitro fertilization" or "Embryo Transfer" or "ovarian stimulation" or "ovarian stimulation controlled ovarian stimulation" or "ovulation induction" or "ovulation stimulation" or "superovulation" or "superovulation induction" or "ovarian hyperstimulation" or "poor responders" or "poor responder" or "poor prognostic patients" or "controlled ovarian hyperstimulation" or "controlled ovarian stimulation" or "COH" or Title CONTAINS "IVF" or "ICSI" or "ET" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection techniques" or "intracytoplasmic sperm injection" or "in‐vitro fertilisation " or "in vitro fertilization" or "Embryo Transfer" or "ovarian stimulation" or "ovarian stimulation controlled ovarian stimulation" or "ovulation induction" or "ovulation stimulation" or "superovulation" or "superovulation induction" or "ovarian hyperstimulation" AND Keywords CONTAINS "standard IVF‐ICSI procedure" or "standard protocol "or "standard schedule" or "standard stimulation" or "individualised protocol" or "individualized protocol" or "multiple dose protocol" or "Pretreatment" or "mini‐IVF" or "minidose GnRH agonist" or "minidose long GnRH agonist" or "minimal stimulation" or "micro‐dose GnRH‐a flare" or "minidose" or "flexible protocol" or "co‐flare protocol" or "Pretreatment" or "GNRH antagonist protocol" or ultra long protocol" or "ultra low‐dose" or "ultra‐short protocol" or "down regulation" or "fixed dose protocol" or "fixed protocol" or "protocol" or "Protocols" or "multiple dose" or "multiple dose" or "LHRH" or "LHRH agonists" or "LHRH antagonists"

Appendix 2. CENTRAL search strategy

From inception until present

Central Register of Studies Online (CRSO) web platform

#1 MESH DESCRIPTOR Reproductive Techniques, Assisted EXPLODE ALL TREES

#2 (embryo transfer*):TI,AB,KY

#3 (vitro fertili?ation*):TI,AB,KY

#4 (ivf or ICSI):TI,AB,KY

#5 (intracytoplasmic sperm injection*):TI,AB,KY

#6 (blastocyst transfer*):TI,AB,KY

#7 (assisted reproduct*):TI,AB,KY

#8 superovulat*:TI,AB,KY

#9 COH:TI,AB,KY

#10 MESH DESCRIPTOR Ovulation Induction EXPLODE ALL TREES

#11 (ovar* adj3 stimulat*):TI,AB,KY

#12 (ovar* adj3 hyperstimulat*):TI,AB,KY

#13 (ovar* adj3 induc*):TI,AB,KY

#14 (ovulat* adj3 induc*):TI,AB,KY

#15 (ovul* adj3 stimulat*):TI,AB,KY

#16 (oocyte* adj2 matur*):TI,AB,KY

#17 folliculogenesis:TI,AB,KY

#18 (ovar* adj2 steroidogenesis):TI,AB,KY

#19 (poor adj2 respon*):TI,AB,KY

#20 (poor prognos*):TI,AB,KY

#21 (low adj2 respon*):TI,AB,KY

#22 (recurrent adj2 failure*):TI,AB,KY

#23 (poor adj2 reserve):TI,AB,KY

#24 (infertil* or subfertil*):TI,AB,KY

#25 #1 OR #2 OR #3 OR #4 OR #5 OR #6 OR #7 OR #8 OR #9 OR #10 OR #11 OR #12 OR #13 OR #14 OR #15 OR #16 OR #17 OR #18 OR #19 OR #20 OR #21 OR #22 OR #23 OR #24

#26 MESH DESCRIPTOR Menotropins EXPLODE ALL TREES

#27 (human menopausal gonadotrop?in*):TI,AB,KY

#28 pergonal:TI,AB,KY

#29 Menotrop?in*:TI,AB,KY

#30 (hMG or hphMG):TI,AB,KY

#31 menopur:TI,AB,KY

#32 Merional‐HG:TI,AB,KY

#33 hume?gon:TI,AB,KY

#34 #26 OR #27 OR #28 OR #29 OR #30 OR #31 OR #32 OR #33

#35 MESH DESCRIPTOR Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human EXPLODE ALL TREES

#36 (recombinant follicle stimulating hormone*):TI,AB,KY

#37 (recombinant FSH):TI,AB,KY

#38 (rec FSH or rFSH or rhFSH or hFSH):TI,AB,KY

#39 (recFSH or Gonal F):TI,AB,KY

#40 (Human FSH or Fostimon):TI,AB,KY

#41 (pFSH or p‐FSH or hpFSH or hp‐FSH):TI,AB,KY

#42 Bemfola:TI,AB,KY

#43 r‐hFSH:TI,AB,KY

#44 (FSH HP):TI,AB,KY

#45 (purified Follicle Stimulating Hormone*):TI,AB,KY

#46 (urinary adj2 follicle stimulating hormone):TI,AB,KY

#47 (uFSH or urinary FSH or u‐FSH):TI,AB,KY

#48 (long acting adj3 FSH):TI,AB,KY

#49 (long acting adj2 follicle stimulating hormone):TI,AB,KY

#50 (daily FSH):TI,AB,KY

#51 (corifollitropin alpha or corifollitropin alfa):TI,AB,KY

#52 Elonva:TI,AB,KY

#53 (follitropin beta or follitropin alpha or follitropin alfa):TI,AB,KY

#54 Ovaleap:TI,AB,KY

#55 (recombinant adj2 gonadotrop?in*):TI,AB,KY

#56 (urinary adj2 gonadotrop?in*):TI,AB,KY

#57 (purified adj2 gonadotrop?in*):TI,AB,KY

#58 (rFSH LH):TI,AB,KY

#59 (recombinant LH or recombinant luteinizing hormone*):TI,AB,KY

#60 (rec LH or recLH):TI,AB,KY

#61 (growth hormone):TI,AB,KY

#62 HPuFSH :TI,AB,KY

#63 (purified adj2 FSH):TI,AB,KY

#64 (exogenous gonadotrop?in*):TI,AB,KY

#65 #35 OR #36 OR #37 OR #38 OR #39 OR #40 OR #41 OR #42 OR #43 OR #44 OR #45 OR #46 OR #47 OR #48 OR #49 OR #50 OR #51 OR #52 OR #53 OR #54 OR #55 OR #56 OR #57 OR #58 OR #59 OR #60 OR #61 OR #62 OR #63 OR #64

#66 #34 OR #65

#67 (mild adj2 stimulation):TI,AB,KY

#68 (mild adj2 ivf):TI,AB,KY

#69 (microflare or flare):TI,AB,KY

#70 (agonist adj2 stop):TI,AB,KY

#71 (GNRHa or GNRH a or GNRH agonist*):TI,AB,KY

#72 (gonadotrop?in* adj3 agonist*):TI,AB,KY

#73 (GNRH antagonist* or gonadotrop?in antagonist* ):TI,AB,KY

#74 MESH DESCRIPTOR Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone EXPLODE ALL TREES

#75 (buserelin or goserelin or leuprolide or nafarelin or triptorelin):TI,AB,KY

#76 (Zoladex or ganirelix or cetrorelix):TI,AB,KY

#77 (degarelix or elagolix):TI,AB,KY

#78 (factrel or down regulation):TI,AB,KY

#79 (cetrotide or lupron or synarel):TI,AB,KY

#80 (GNRH analog* or gonadotrop?in analog*):TI,AB,KY

#81 #67 OR #68 OR #69 OR #70 OR #71 OR #72 OR #73 OR #74 OR #75 OR #76 OR #77 OR #78 OR #79 OR #80

#82 (modified adj3 cycle*):TI,AB,KY

#83 (natural adj3 cycle*):TI,AB,KY

#84 (MNC IVF or NCIVF):TI,AB,KY

#85 (NC IVF):TI,AB,KY

#86 (unstimulated adj2 cycle*):TI,AB,KY

#87 (unstimulated adj3 ivf):TI,AB,KY

#88 (unstimulated adj2 in vitro fertili?ation):TI,AB,KY

#89 (artificial adj3 cycle*):TI,AB,KY

#90 (mini* adj2 ivf):TI,AB,KY

#91 #82 OR #83 OR #84 OR #85 OR #86 OR #87 OR #88 OR #89 OR #90

#92 #66 or #81 or #91

#93 protocol* adj2 (mild or minimal or short or long or flare or stop or microflare) #94 protocol* adj2 (ultrashort or ultra short)

#95 protocol* adj2 (ivf or rescue or multidose or modified or flexible)

#96 protocol* adj2 (stimulat* or unstimulat*)

#97 protocol* adj2 (agonist* or antagonist*)

#98 protocol* adj2 (hyperstimulation or supress*)

#99 protocol* adj2 (standard or gonadotrop?in*)

#100 protocol* adj2 (conventional or combined)

#101 (protocol* adj2 assisted reproduct* techn*)

#102 #93 OR #94 OR #95 OR #96 OR #97 OR #98 OR #99 OR #100 OR #101

#103 #92 OR #102

#104 #25 AND #103

Appendix 3. MEDLINE search strategy

From 1946 to present

Ovid platform

1 exp embryo transfer/ or exp fertilization in vitro/ or exp sperm injections, intracytoplasmic/
2 embryo transfer$.tw.
3 vitro fertili?ation.tw.
4 ivf.tw.
5 icsi.tw.
6 intracytoplasmic sperm injection$.tw.
7 (blastocyst adj2 transfer$).tw.
8 assisted reproduct$.tw.
9 superovulat$.tw.
10 COH.tw.
11 exp Ovulation Induction/
12 exp Superovulation/
13 (ovar$ adj3 stimulat$).tw.
14 (ovar$ adj3 hyperstimulat$).tw.
15 (ovar$ adj3 induc$).tw.
16 (ovulat$ adj3 induc$).tw.
17 (ovul$ adj3 stimulat$).tw.
18 (oocyte$ adj2 matur$).tw.
19 folliculogenesis.tw.
20 (ovar$ adj2 steroidogenesis).tw.
21 ((poor adj2 respon$) or poor prognos$).tw.
22 (low adj2 respon$).tw.
23 (recurrent adj2 failure$).tw
24 (poor adj2 reserve$).tw.
25 (infertil$ or subfertil$).tw.
26 assisted reproducti$ techn$.tw.
27 (implant$ adj2 fail$).tw.
28 Bologna criteria.tw.
29 or/1‐28
30 exp Menotropins/
31 human menopausal gonadotrop?in$.tw.
32 pergonal.tw.
33 Menotrop?in$.tw.
34 (hMG or hphMG).tw.
35 (menopur$ or humegon).tw.
36 Merional‐HG.tw.
37 or/30‐36
38 exp Follicle Stimulating Hormone/ and (recombinant or purified or urinary).tw.
39 recombinant follicle stimulating hormone$.tw.
40 recombinant FSH.tw.
41 (rec FSH or rFSH or rhFSH or hFSH or HPuFSH).tw.
42 (recFSH or Gonal F).tw.
43 (Human FSH or Fostimon).tw.
44 (purified adj2 FSH).tw.
45 (pFSH or p‐FSH or hpFSH or hp‐FSH).tw.
46 (Bemfola or follistim or Luveris).tw.
47 r‐hFSH.tw.
48 FSH HP.tw.
49 purified Follicle Stimulating Hormone$.tw.
50 (urinary adj2 follicle stimulating hormone$).tw.
51 (uFSH or urinary FSH or u‐FSH).tw.
52 (long acting adj3 FSH).tw.
53 (long acting adj2 follicle stimulating hormone$).tw.
54 daily FSH.tw.
55 (corifollitropin alpha or corifollitropin alfa).tw.
56 Elonva$.tw.
57 (follitropin beta or follitropin alpha or follitropin alfa).tw.
58 Ovaleap.tw.
59 (recombinant adj2 gonadotrop?in$).tw.
60 (urinary adj2 gonadotrop?in$).tw.
61 (purified adj2 gonadotrop?in$).tw.
62 rFSH LH.tw.
63 (recombinant LH or recombinant luteinizing hormone$).tw.
64 (rec LH or recLH).tw.
65 exogenous gonadotrop?in$.tw.
66 (gonadotrop?in$ adj1 urinary).tw.
67 (gonadotrop?in$ adj1 recombinant).tw.
68 (gonadotrop?in$ adj1 purified).tw.
69 growth hormone.tw.
70 or/38‐69
71 (mild adj2 stimulation).tw.
72 (mild adj2 ivf).tw.
73 (microflare or flare).tw.
74 (ultrashort or ultra short).tw.
75 (agonist adj2 stop).tw.
76 stop lupron.tw.
77 (GNRHa or GNRH a or GNRH agonist$).tw.
78 (gonadotrop?in$ adj3 agonist$).tw.
79 (gonadotrop?in adj3 antagonist$).tw.
80 (gonadotrop?in adj3 analog$).tw.
81 GNRH antagonist$.tw.
82 exp gonadotropin‐releasing hormone/ or exp buserelin/ or exp goserelin/ or exp leuprolide/ or exp nafarelin/ or exp triptorelin pamoate/
83 (buserelin or goserelin or leuprolide or nafarelin or triptorelin or zoladex).tw.
84 (deslorelin or histrelin).tw.
85 (suprefact or suprecor or supprelin or ovuplant or suprelorin).tw.
86 (abarelix or ganirelix or cetrorelix).tw.
87 (degarelix or elagolix).tw.
88 (factrel or down regulation).tw.
89 (cetrotide or lupron or synarel).tw.
90 GNRH analog$.tw.
91 (modified adj3 cycle$).tw.
92 (natural adj3 cycle$).tw.
93 MNC IVF.tw.
94 NCIVF.tw.
95 NC‐IVF.tw.
96 minimal stimulat$.tw.
97 (stimulated adj2 cycle$).tw.
98 (unstimulated adj2 cycle$).tw.
99 (stimulat$ adj2 ivf).tw.
100 unstimulated ivf.tw.
101 (unstimulated adj2 in vitro fertili?ation).tw.
102 (artificial adj3 cycle$).tw.
103 mini ivf.tw.
104 (mini adj2 in vitro fertili?ation).tw.
105 (minimal adj2 ivf).tw.
106 or/71‐105
107 (protocol$ adj2 (mild or minimal or short or long or flare or stop or microflare)).tw.
108 (protocol$ adj2 (ultrashort or ultra short)).tw.
109 (protocol$ adj2 (ivf or rescue or multidose or modified or flexible)).tw.
110 (protocol$ adj2 (stimulat$ or unstimulat$)).tw.
111 (protocol$ adj2 (agonist$ or antagonist$)).tw.
112 (protocol$ adj2 (hyperstimulation or supress$)).tw.
113 (protocol$ adj2 (standard or gonadotrop?in$)).tw.
114 (protocol$ adj2 (conventional or combined)).tw.
115 (protocol$ adj2 assisted reproduct$ techn$).tw.
116 or/107‐115
117 37 or 70 or 106 or 116
118 29 and 117
119 randomized controlled trial.pt.
120 controlled clinical trial.pt.
121 randomized.ab.
122 randomised.ab
123 placebo.tw.
124 clinical trials as topic.sh.
125 randomly.ab.
126 trial.ti.
127 (crossover or cross‐over or cross over).tw.
128 or/119‐127
129 exp animals/ not humans.sh.
130 128 not 129
131 118 and 130

Appendix 4. Embase search strategy

From 1974 to present

Ovid platform

1 exp embryo transfer/ or exp fertilization in vitro/ or exp intracytoplasmic sperm injection/
2 embryo$ transfer$.tw.
3 in vitro fertili?ation.tw.
4 icsi.tw.
5 intracytoplasmic sperm injection$.tw.
6 (blastocyst adj2 transfer$).tw.
7 ivf.tw.
8 assisted reproduct$.tw.
9 exp infertility therapy/
10 superovulat$.tw.
11 COH.tw.
12 exp ovulation induction/
13 exp superovulation/
14 (ovar$ adj3 stimulat$).tw.
15 (ovar$ adj3 hyperstimulat$).tw.
16 (ovar$ adj3 induc$).tw.
17 (ovulat$ adj3 induc$).tw.
18 (ovul$ adj3 stimulat$).tw.
19 (oocyte$ adj2 matur$).tw.
20 folliculogenesis.tw.
21 (ovar$ adj2 steroidogenesis).tw.
22 ((poor adj2 respon$) or poor prognos$).tw.
23 (low adj2 respon$).tw.
24 (recurrent adj2 failure$).tw.
25 (poor adj2 reserve$).tw.
26 (infertil$ or subfertil$).tw.
27 or/1‐26
28 exp human menopausal gonadotropin/
29 human menopausal gonadotrop?in$.tw.
30 pergonal.tw.
31 Menotrop?in$.tw.
32 (hMG or hphMG).tw.
33 menopur$.tw.
34 Merional‐HG.tw.
35 hume?gon.tw.
36 or/28‐35
37 exp follitropin/ and (recombinant or purified or urinary).tw.
38 recombinant follicle stimulating hormone$.tw.
39 recombinant FSH.tw.
40 (rec FSH or rFSH or rhFSH or hFSH or hpufsh).tw.
41 (recFSH or Gonal F).tw.
42 (Human FSH or Fostimon).tw.
43 (purified adj2 FSH).tw.
44 (pFSH or p‐FSH or hpFSH or hp‐FSH).tw.
45 Bemfola.tw.
46 r‐hFSH.tw.
47 FSH HP.tw.
48 purified Follicle Stimulating Hormone$.tw.
49 (urinary adj2 follicle stimulating hormone$).tw.
50 (uFSH or urinary FSH or u‐FSH).tw.
51 (long acting adj3 FSH).tw.
52 (long acting adj2 follicle stimulating hormone$).tw.
53 daily FSH.tw.
54 (corifollitropin alpha or corifollitropin alfa).tw.
55 Elonva$.tw.
56 (follitropin beta or follitropin alpha or follitropin alfa).tw.
57 follitropin beta.tw.
58 Ovaleap.tw.
59 (recombinant adj2 gonadotrop?in$).tw.
60 (urinary adj2 gonadotrop?in$).tw.
61 (purified adj2 gonadotrop?in$).tw.
62 rFSH LH.tw.
63 (recombinant LH or recombinant luteinizing hormone$).tw.
64 (rec LH or recLH).tw.
65 or/37‐64
66 (modified adj3 cycle$).tw.
67 (natural adj2 cycle$).tw.
68 (MNC IVF or micro ivf or mini ivf).tw.
69 NCIVF.tw.
70 NC‐IVF.tw.
71 ((unstimulated or stimulat$) adj2 cycle$).tw.
72 (stimulat$ adj2 ivf).tw.
73 (unstimulat$ adj2 ivf).tw.
74 (artificial adj3 cycle$).tw.
75 (unstimulated adj2 in vitro fertili?ation).tw.
76 MNC‐FET.tw.
77 AC‐FET.tw.
78 or/66‐77
79 growth hormone.tw.
80 (mild adj2 stimulation).tw.
81 (microflare or flare).tw.
82 exogenous gonadotrop?in$.tw.
83 (gonadotrop?in$ adj1 urinary).tw.
84 (gonadotrop?in$ adj1 recombinant).tw.
85 (gonadotrop?in$ adj1 purified).tw.
86 (agonist adj2 stop).tw.
87 (GNRHa or GNRH a or GNRH agonist$).tw.
88 (gonadotrop?in$ adj3 agonist$).tw.
89 GNRH antagonist$.tw.
90 (gonadotrop?in adj3 antagonist$).tw.
91 (gonadotrop?in adj3 analog$).tw.
92 exp gonadorelin/
93 exp buserelin/ or exp buserelin acetate/
94 exp goserelin/
95 exp leuprorelin/
96 exp nafarelin acetate/ or exp nafarelin/
97 exp triptorelin/
98 (buserelin or goserelin or leuprolide or nafarelin or triptorelin).tw.
99 (Zoladex or ganirelix or cetrorelix).tw.
100 (degarelix or elagolix).tw.
101 factrel.tw.
102 (cetrotide or lupron or synarel).tw.
103 GNRH analog$.tw.
104 or/79‐103
105 (protocol$ adj2 (mild or minimal or short or long or flare or stop or microflare)).tw.
106 (protocol$ adj2 (ultrashort or ultra short)).tw.
107 (protocol$ adj2 (ivf or rescue or multidose or modified or flexible)).tw.
108 (protocol$ adj2 (stimulat$ or unstimulat$)).tw.
109 (protocol$ adj2 (agonist$ or antagonist$)).tw.
110 (protocol$ adj2 (hyperstimulation or supress$)).tw.
111 (protocol$ adj2 (standard or gonadotrop?in$)).tw.
112 (protocol$ adj2 (conventional or combined)).tw.
113 (protocol$ adj2 assisted reproduct$ techn$).tw.
114 or/105‐113
115 36 or 65 or 78 or 104 or 114
116 27 and 115
117 Clinical Trial/
118 Randomized Controlled Trial/
119 exp randomization/
120 Single Blind Procedure/
121 Double Blind Procedure/
122 Crossover Procedure/
123 Placebo/
124 Randomi?ed controlled trial$.tw.
125 Rct.tw.
126 random allocation.tw.
127 randomly.tw.
128 randomly allocated.tw.
129 allocated randomly.tw.
130 (allocated adj2 random).tw.
131 Single blind$.tw.
132 Double blind$.tw.
133 ((treble or triple) adj blind$).tw.
134 placebo$.tw.
135 prospective study/
136 or/117‐135
137 case study/
138 case report.tw.
139 abstract report/ or letter/
140 or/137‐139
141 136 not 140
142 (exp animal/ or animal.hw. or nonhuman/) not (exp human/ or human cell/ or (human or humans).ti.)
143 141 not 142
144 116 and 143

Appendix 5. CINAHL search strategy

From 1982 to present

Ebsco platform